Before my diagnosis and healing from cancer, God had called me in the area of healing, evangelism, and encouraging other believers through His Word. This helped me tremendously as I went through what I call my personal “fiery trial,” in which the enemy sought to destroy both me and my faith in God. The enemy was foolish enough to believe that he could destroy me in the very area that God had called me to minister His truth to both the saved and the unsaved. God, however, had a different plan altogether!

First of all, God has a personal plan for every believer. Ephesians 1:11 states: “In Him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of Him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will” (NIV).

Verse 4 of the same chapter emphasizes that we were predestined to sonship through Jesus Christ by His wonderful and never-ending grace—even before He created the world! Therefore, when we submit to God’s will in our lives, we know that the plans of the enemy cannot stand against us, because He is working out everything to conform to His purpose!

The fact that I had received my strong calling before the cancer diagnosis was a tremendous blessing to me—because I knew my ministry had hardly even started. Yet based on the Scripture above, and countless others, the promises within our Bibles are more than enough to assure any believer that God’s plan will surely prevail in each one of our lives. Some reading this may not be fully aware of the full calling of God on their lives. Let me say to you. If you believe what the Word of God says, then you have enough to work with just right there—this is a good place for you to start!

As disciples of Jesus Christ, God’s will for us it to be like Jesus and do what Jesus did when He walked the earth during His ministry. You do not need to preach from a pulpit or belong to an official ministry to do this! I have entitled this series Healing for Today because many people may not understand that what was happening at the time that Jesus walked the earth is still happening today. God’s power is active and available for healing—physical bodies, mental health, or any other problems that arise.

This article is called Sent to Heal the Sick because as followers of Jesus, this is one of our callings no matter who you are! Not only did Jesus heal the sick, but He sent others to do the same. Healing displays God’s power over sickness and death, which is in the world as a result of the curse and man’s disobedience. These healings by Jesus and His followers obviously had a profound effect on the individuals who were set free from their diseases, but also impacted the whole region where Jesus walked in ministry. The New Testament is full of accounts where multitudes sought and surrounded Jesus everywhere He went in order to be healed.

In Luke’s account, Jesus is doing the healing up until chapter 9, when He gives His twelve apostles authority to do the same:

“Then Jesus called the Twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons, and power to cure diseases. And He sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.”  (Luke 9:1-2)

In the next chapter, Jesus sends out seventy-two for the same purpose:

“Whenever you enter a town and they receive you, eat what is set before you. Heal the sick in it and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’” (Luke 10: 8-9)

Healing of the sick and the Kingdom of God are inseparable! The healings performed by Jesus and His followers were for the purpose of glorifying God and to identify Jesus as the Son of God. Today the healing of the sick through followers of Jesus is no different. And why should there be any difference? Sickness and disease are still on the earth, and we have some work to do! The healing of the physical body is not the sole, end purpose. Jesus died so that all could have eternal life. As in the times of Jesus, many were saved and made whole spiritually through the works of healing the sick because it manifested God’s power in the natural world.

Luke continues in the Book of Acts describing Peter and John healing the lame man from birth. What made this account so miraculous is that no one had ever seen this man walk or up on his feet! He also asked for alms daily at the temple so everyone was fully aware of this man and his inability to walk since birth. When the man asked Peter and James for alms, Luke writes this account:

“But Peter said, ‘I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!’  And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong.  And leaping up, he stood and began to walk, and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God.  And all the people saw him walking and praising God, and recognized him as the one who sat at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, asking for alms. And they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.” (Acts 3:6-10)

Peter goes on to say to all the witnesses:

“And his name—by faith in his name—has made this man strong whom you see and know, and the faith that is through Jesus has given the man this perfect health in the presence of you all.” (Acts: 3:16)

As Christians, we are to be ambassadors of Christ in this world. We are described as the light of the world and we are told to let our light shine. We are the salt of the earth and should never lose our “saltiness” so to speak, because if this happens to salt, it becomes a useless substance. As Christ is in us by the Holy Spirit, the world should be seeing Jesus in us as we walk out our daily lives. We should be imitating Christ.

God has not changed and neither has His purpose of saving mankind and manifesting His glory upon the earth. It has increased my own personal faith to know that when we expect the full manifestation of healing in our own bodies, this is not only a promise to us, but God uses the healing to minister to others and display His mighty kingdom—for His glory, His purpose, and for the salvation of others.

This being true, what an assurance that God will be faithful to those who “have faith in His name”—the name above all names—Jesus!