As the pastor of En-Joy Ministries, I often hear the heartfelt cries of those seeking divine physical healing. Pain, illness, aging, and sudden diagnoses like cancer or tumors can upend lives, leaving people longing for God’s intervention. In these moments, devout believers turn to the church, calling upon pastors and trusted brothers and sisters in Christ to pray for them, trusting that God’s power can deliver them from sickness and disease. The Bible assures us that God is not distant, He is near, and His Word provides a clear foundation for divine healing through the power of prayer. Today, I want to share the biblical truth about God’s healing covenant, the authority we have in Christ, and how prayer transforms lives when we stand on His promises.

The Divine Healing Covenant: A Promise Rooted in Christ’s Atonement

At the heart of God’s provision for healing is the divine healing covenant, articulated in both the Old and New Testaments. In Exodus 15:26, God declares, “If you diligently heed the voice of the LORD your God and do what is right in His sight, give ear to His commandments and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have brought on the Egyptians. For I am the LORD who heals you.” This Old Testament promise is fulfilled in the New Testament through Jesus’ redemptive work on the cross, as outlined in James 5:13-18, often called the New Testament Divine Healing Covenant.

Isaiah 53:4-5 beautifully ties healing to Christ’s atonement: “Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows… by His stripes, we are healed.” The Hebrew words for “griefs” and “sorrows” specifically refer to physical afflictions, and Matthew 8:16-17 confirms this by stating that Jesus’ healing ministry fulfilled this prophecy: “He Himself took our infirmities and bore our sicknesses.” Similarly, 1 Peter 2:24 declares, “By whose stripes you were healed,” linking physical healing to the same atoning work that secures our salvation.

This covenant is not a mere suggestion—it’s a promise. Just as we receive salvation by faith, we must receive healing by faith, trusting that Christ’s sacrifice has made provision for both our spiritual and physical restoration. When we confess God’s Word, as Isaiah 55:11 assures us, it “shall not return to Him void, but it shall accomplish what [He] pleases.” Therefore, we can boldly declare, “In the name of Jesus, we are healed, redeemed from the curse of sickness, and we refuse to tolerate its symptoms!”

The Power of Prayer: Communing with a Present God

Prayer is not just a ritual; it’s a divine connection to the living God. James 5:13-16 instructs us: “Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray… Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up… The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.”

 Prayer brings us into God’s presence, where transformation happens. As we commune with Him, we grow in awareness of His Spirit within us, aligning our hearts with His will. Psalm 91:9-10 offers a powerful promise for those who make God their refuge: “Because you have made the LORD, who is my refuge, even the Most High, your dwelling place, no evil shall befall you, nor shall any plague come near your dwelling.” This verse underscores that divine protection and healing flow from a life rooted in trust and intimacy with God.

The story of Hannah in 1 Samuel 1 illustrates this beautifully. Her fervent prayers for a child aligned with God’s will, resulting not only in the birth of Samuel but also in blessings for an entire nation. Like Hannah, our prayers—when offered in faith and alignment with God’s Word—release His power to transform lives.

The Prayer of Faith: Believing Before Seeing

The “prayer of faith” described in James 5:15 is a cornerstone of divine healing. Mark 11:24 teaches, “Whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.” Faith is not wishful thinking; it’s the “substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1). It’s trusting God’s Word as the final authority, speaking and acting in agreement with His promises.

When we pray the prayer of faith, we believe we have received healing at the moment we say “Amen,” regardless of visible results. This faith is grounded in knowing God’s will, as 1 John 5:14-15 assures us: “If we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.” God’s Word is His will, and His promises for healing are clear.

Authority in Christ: Binding and Loosing

As believers, we have been given authority through Christ’s name to confront sickness and spiritual opposition. Matthew 18:18 states, “Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” Jesus reclaimed authority over the earth through His victory over Satan (Mark 16:17-18), and He has entrusted us with the “power of attorney” to use His name (Philippians 2:9-10). When we bind sickness or loose healing in Jesus’ name, heaven backs our declaration.

James 4:7 reminds us, “Submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” Sickness often stems from spiritual opposition (Ephesians 6:12), but we have authority to resist it. God doesn’t permit disasters or diseases for some mysterious purpose—He permits what we permit and forbids what we forbid through the authority of Christ’s name (Luke 10:19).

Practical Steps for Healing Prayer

• Know God’s Will: Study scriptures like Isaiah 53:4-5, James 5:13-18, and 1 Peter 2:24 to anchor your faith in God’s promise of healing.
• Call for the Elders: If you’re sick, exercise faith by requesting prayer from godly elders who meet the qualifications of 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:5-9. Their prayer, accompanied by anointing with oil, is a prophetic act symbolizing the Holy Spirit’s healing power (James 5:14).
• Confess and Repent: James 5:16 encourages confessing sins to one another, as unconfessed sin can hinder healing. Our physical and spiritual health are interconnected.
• Pray with Fervency: The “effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much” (James 5:16). Like Elijah, whose prayers stopped and started rain (James 5:17-18), we must pray with intensity and persistence.
• Live in God’s Presence: Cultivate a lifestyle of prayer, as 1 Thessalonians 5:17 urges us to “pray without ceasing.” This constant communion keeps us attuned to God’s voice and power.

Testimonies of God’s Power

The Bible is filled with examples of God’s healing power through prayer. Elijah’s simple prayer on Mount Carmel (1 Kings 18) brought fire from heaven, demonstrating God’s response to faith-filled prayer. Moses interceded for Miriam’s healing from leprosy (Numbers 12:13), and God restored her. Hezekiah’s prayer in 2 Kings 20:5-6 extended his life by 15 years. These stories remind us that God’s power is not limited to biblical times—it’s available to us today when we pray in faith.

A Call to Action

If you or a loved one are facing sickness, don’t lose hope. Stand on God’s Word, confess His promises, and believe that “by His stripes, you are healed.” Call for the elders, anoint with oil, and pray the prayer of faith. Make the Lord your refuge, as Psalm 91:9-10 promises, and trust Him to shield you from affliction. At En-Joy Ministries, we’re here to pray with you and stand in faith for your healing. Let’s join together, wielding the authority of Jesus’ name, to see God’s power unleashed. As Jeremiah 33:3 says, “Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.” Let’s call on Him today! In Christ’s healing name,

Pastor Barron Greenwalt
En-Joy Ministries

Prayer for Those Praying for the Sick

Heavenly Father,
We come before You in the mighty name of Jesus, Your Son, who bore our infirmities and carried our sicknesses on the cross (Isaiah 53:4-5). We thank You for the privilege and authority You’ve given us to pray for those who are hurting, sick, and afflicted. Equip us with the prayer of faith, as promised in James 5:15, and anoint us with Your Holy Spirit to minister healing in Your name. Grant us discernment to know Your will and boldness to speak Your Word with confidence, believing that what we bind on earth is bound in heaven, and what we loose is loosed by Your power (Matthew 18:18). Fill us with fervent, effectual prayer that avails much (James 5:16), and let our hearts be aligned with Your compassion and love. Use us as vessels to glorify Jesus, trusting that You will raise up the sick and restore them according to Your promises. We stand on Your Word, declaring that by Jesus’ stripes, they are healed (1 Peter 2:24). May Your healing power flow through us, bringing hope, restoration, and testimony to Your faithfulness. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Prayer for Those Seeking Personal Healing

Gracious Father,
I come to You in the name of Jesus, my Savior and Healer, trusting in Your divine healing covenant (James 5:13-18). Your Word declares that by Jesus’ stripes, I am healed (1 Peter 2:24), and I stand on that promise with bold faith. I confess Your Word, knowing it will not return void but will accomplish Your purpose (Isaiah 55:11). I make You my refuge and dwelling place, as Psalm 91:9-10 promises, and I believe no plague or affliction can overcome Your protection. I resist the enemy and the curse of sickness in Jesus’ name (James 4:7), declaring that I am redeemed from every disease. Forgive me of any sin that may hinder my healing (James 5:16) and renew my mind to trust Your Word above all symptoms or diagnoses (Romans 12:2). I believe I receive my healing now, as I pray, according to Mark 11:24. Fill me with Your peace and strength and let Your Holy Spirit work in me to restore my body and glorify Your name. Thank You, Lord, for being my Healer. In Jesus’ name, Amen.