series artseries art

How to Experience the Healing Power of Jesus

And when they came to the disciples, they saw a great crowd around them, and scribes arguing with them. And immediately all the crowd, when they saw him, were greatly amazed and ran up to him and greeted him. And he asked them, “What are you arguing about with them?” And someone from the crowd answered him, “Teacher, I brought my son to you, for he has a spirit that makes him mute. And whenever it seizes him, it throws him down, and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid. So I asked your disciples to cast it out, and they were not able.” And he answered them, “O faithless generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him to me.” And they brought the boy to him. And when the spirit saw him, immediately it convulsed the boy, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth. And Jesus asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood. And it has often cast him into fire and into water, to destroy him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” And Jesus said to him, “If you can! All things are possible for one who believes.” Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!” And when Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “You mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.” And after crying out and convulsing him terribly, it came out, and the boy was like a corpse, so that most of them said, “He is dead.” But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose. And when he had entered the house, his disciples asked him privately, “Why could we not cast it out?” And he said to them, “This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer.” MARK 9:14-29 ESV

Believe that Jesus can heal

And Jesus said to him, “‘If you can’! All things are possible for one who believes.” Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!” MARK 9:23-24 ESV

And he answered them, “O faithless generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? MARK 9:19 ESV

Faith is essential to healing.

And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.” MATTHEW 21:22 NLT

Learn to ask Jesus for healing

Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full. JOHN 16:23 ESV

You do not have, because you do not ask. JAMES 4:2 ESV

Trust that Jesus will always answer me

So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most. HEBREWS 4:15 NLT

Jesus answers prayers for healing in three ways:

Suddenly, a man with leprosy approached him and knelt before him. “Lord,” the man said, “if you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean.” Jesus reached out and touched him. “I am willing,” he said. “Be healed!” And instantly the leprosy disappeared. MATTHEW 8:2-3 NLT

Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” 2 CORINTHIANS 12:8-9 NLT

Wait patiently for the LORD. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the LORD. PSALM 27:14 NLT

The more important your prayer is, the longer you should be willing to wait.

And when he had entered the house, his disciples asked him privately, “Why could we not cast it out?” And he said to them, “This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer.” MARK 9:28-29 NLT

Learning to wait on God deepens your relationship with Him.

My Notes

Personal Reflection Guide

Take a few minutes to release any burdens from the day. Perhaps it’s by simply slowing your breathing, maybe it’s visualizing laying your burdens at the feet of Jesus. When you are ready, begin your time by asking God to help you be real with yourself and him in this moment. As you consider your own areas of pain or brokenness, where have you stood in your own way of experiencing Jesus’ healing? Fight any feelings of shame or condemnation; rather, with simple honesty, bring this area of your life before Jesus, confessing it to him. Ask God for his love to wash over you, and for his strength to grow your faith. Pray, “I believe; help my unbelief” over this particular area, and trust God that he will be with you in that prayer. Consider, also, any areas where God may be telling you, “My grace is sufficient for you. My power is made perfect in your weakness.” Ask him for more grace, and more power to trust him. As you close your time, ask God to tangibly remind you of his love for you, sharing with the group what this experience was like, if you feel comfortable.

Discussion Questions

  1. PERSONAL REFLECTION: Begin group time by doing the Personal Reflection Guide, found on the front page of the sermon notes. Use this vital time to engage with God as healer, inviting him in to those areas of your life that need his healing presence.
  2. REAL WITH SELF: Share your personal faith story—how did you come to accept Jesus? Since then, what areas of your life have you experienced his healing in?
  3. REAL WITH GOD: Read James 4:2-3 NLT. God is not in the business of doing miracles that aren’t requested. Where do I simply need to ask God for healing (physical, emotional, spiritual, relational)?
  4. REAL WITH OTHERS: Share about a time when you have personally experienced a miracle from God. How did that affect your faith? How did (or how does) sharing that experience invite others into the healing that Jesus might have for them?
  5. TAKE ACTION: Take communion as a group. As you do this, thank Jesus for his healing over your life. Pray, also, for the church—that God would bring healing to those who need it, and that more and more people would come to experience the healing power of Jesus.