Without evidence, I’m guessing that statistics for Christians are similar. Especially since they are similar in divorce statistics and reportedly, greater in support of torture of prisoners of war (62% vs. 49% – Pew Group Report). However, those discussions are for another day and perhaps even another blog. The focus here is on healing, so back to television.

While there can be good television programming, I think there are few things that are more destructive to faith and a life of communion with the Lord than television. And no, I’m not just referring to sex, violence and profanity. I’m referring instead to the act of TV-watching itself and what happens as you watch TV. It is possibly the most passive and mind-surrendering act you can perform in your home.

Many say they watch TV to relax, but it is merely giving your mind over to the folks in Hollywood. We hand it over to them to fill with images, to engage, but later wonder aloud why we seldom hear the voice of God. It may be that the “still, quiet voice” is drowned out by the multiple explosions and gunshots of those thrillers we have surrendered our minds to.

My personal thesis is that the more we watch TV, the less we’ll hear God. I’ll add even “Christian channels” to the mix here. Some of these are good to watch, others are simply fund-raising operations that don’t edify. If we watch the average of almost 5 hours a day, I personally doubt that we can ever be effective in healing ministry. We simply will not have enough time to pray, to study the word and build faith, and to consecrate ourselves before the Lord.

These days, I now catch myself almost automatically while watching TV. Five to ten minutes seems to be my limit before an internal timer warns me it’s time to move on. I just can’t seem to do it anymore. I realized a long time ago that even with an unremarkable cable package, it is easy to watch TV for hours on end – there is so much ‘interesting’ stuff. History, the geographical channel, news and sports, all of which I’m a fan (sadly!) In Hebrews 12:14, it says:

Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.

What is holiness? It is separation unto God. The word “see” means perceive. In other words, without separation from the world system (including thoughts, desires, and its affairs), we will not, and cannot perceive the Lord’s purposes. That includes personal leading for our own lives as well as ministry unto others.  If we look at Jesus’ life as a model, we see in Mark 1:35, that:

Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.

Watching TV late at night just makes this impossible for us to do, especially if you have a job you must go to. However, without this type of communion with God, forget signs, wonders, healings and miracles.  They just won’t happen for us if we don’t spend the time – it’s that spiritual law of sowing and reaping again.

So, in summary, I’m not saying all TV is evil, but the less time we spend watching TV and the more time we spend praying, the more effective we’ll be in ministry, including healing ministry. There is a price to be paid for more effectiveness in healing. I’ll say it again, there’s a PRICE to be paid to be effective in healing.  May we be ready and willing to pay that price. Amen.

It seems to me that today, the onus is more on the individual seeking healing, as opposed to their church or cell group. You have to look far and wide to find others who believe, and those who hold large-scale meetings with tangible results are few enough to be counted on the fingers of two hands. That just grieves me.

Thankfully, we have the Word and we have online access to many resources about Christian healing. Use them, as I have at different times. Seek out like-minded believers and encourage each other, especially if healing is neither taught nor practiced in your church community. I also keep a list of friends and pastors I have met or known over the years that I can reach if I need to.

Back to the individual path. Of all the means by which God heals, several are God-initiated, others are initiated by us. What I mean is that you can pray or lay hand on yourself etc. You initiate those. Gifts of the Spirit on the other hand, are initiated by God through others. You cannot force them in any way. All you can do is eagerly desire spiritual gifts, and have a clean vessel to receive them.

In ministering to yourself, rule out the use of spiritual gifts anyhow, because as the Word says, they are given for the common good, not yours (1 Corinthians 12: 7),

Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.

So that means that if you are sick and ministering to yourself, you can:

1. Pray for yourself
2. Declare your healing
3. Lay hands on yourself
4. Anoint yourself with oil
5. Perform self-deliverance
6. Take Communion

Is there a recommended order or sequence? Thankfully, not. The more you are in prayer and the more you seek Him, what to do next will come naturally. Personally, I give a petition a little time for results to appear. If not, I’ll minister to myself again. I just keep at it until relief comes. We inherit the promises through prayer and persistence. If relief is not forthcoming, then I will seek the assistance of others, which is when the other means of healing come into play.

By the way, if I need a painkiller, I’ll take it with no qualms. I’ve never equated testing my pain tolerance with faith. Tylenol never healed you of anything anyway. It just stops the pain from reaching your brain. In addition, as I mentioned earlier, I’ve never been afraid to go to the doctor for a diagnosis, as well as for those important regular checkups.

That concludes my line of thought about the individual path to healing. Was it helpful? Next, I will look at how churches can become “healing organizations” and prepare themselves for more effective healing ministry.

Healing is a lifestyle. I’ll say it again. Jesus didn’t spend all his day watching cable TV (OK, the 1st century equivalent) and expect miracles during His meetings. Neither did His apostles and disciples in the Book of Acts. Jesus and the early Church spent immense amounts of time in the Word and in prayer. For many people healed today, their healings began months before sickness reared its ugly head, either in their lives or the lives of the ones ministering. Specifically, this lifestyle involves regularly meditating on healing scriptures and prayer.

Find all the healing scriptures you can. Use my list, if you want. But meditate on them “day and night” as God told Joshua (Joshua 1:8),

8 Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.

You’ve got to sow the Word in order to reap its benefits. Faith comes from “hearing the message”, not from being in desperate circumstances. So don’t wait until sickness shows up to go leafing through the Word. Begin when you are well! If you need motivation, remember it is not only for your benefit, but for the benefit of others around you who will need ministry.

Second, don’t avoid the doctor if you have no clue what is wrong with you or a loved one. I’ve known too many believers for whom “ignorance is bliss”. It is NOT bliss! As I’ve mentioned in an earlier post, getting a medical diagnosis is not a lack of faith. Getting regular medical checkups is wisdom, especially as many of us lead unwise lifestyles in regard to diet and exercise, and not getting enough rest. More on the individual’s practical path in my next post.

8 For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.

So we see that while godliness is hugely important, physical training or exercise is of some value at least. Our bodies are fearfully and wonderfully made by God, designed to be fueled by a healthy diet and maintained by appropriate activity and exercise. God made Adam and then,

15 The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.

Notice his assignment wasn’t to lounge on the couch all day, but to be active working the land. In Proverbs 23:20-21 also, there is advice about diet,

20 Do not join those who drink too much wine or gorge themselves on meat, 21 for drunkards and gluttons become poor, and drowsiness clothes them in rags.

So we see that diet and exercise are important for us. ln addition, so are regular medical check ups. Go ahead and benefit from medical knowledge, just as you benefit from driving your car or any other amenities of this modern world.

Let’s reason this one out for a minute. Even assuming you are adamant about biblical healing for every ailment, you can still benefit from the diagnostic capabilities of modern medicine. So use them! Especially since you do not have X-Ray or MRI eyes yet. You will then be better informed about how to pray for your healing. If you need more encouragement, Luke-the author of the books of Luke and Acts, was a doctor.