“When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick” (Matt. 8:16).
This verse says “they” started bringing people to Jesus. Let’s talk about how prayer relates to this Scripture. You’ll find cases again and again in the Bible where people were healed because someone went to Jesus on their behalf.
For instance, did you ever notice in Matthew 8 that the centurion’s servant who needed healing stayed home? This servant had palsy, or what we’d call paralysis, but he was healed because someone went to Jesus on his behalf. In a sense, the centurion was an intercessor because he went to Jesus on behalf of someone in need (vv. 5-13).
In Matthew 15, the woman from Canaan came to Jesus on behalf of her daughter, who was grievously vexed with a devil. This girl was healed because of her mother’s faith (vv. 22-28).
In John 4, the nobleman traveled approximately twenty-five miles from Capernaum to Cana of Galilee to reach Jesus. The nobleman said, “My son is at home at the point of death. Come and heal him.” Jesus said, “Go your way; your son is all right.” The man went his way believing the word Jesus had spoken. And because he had gone to Jesus on his son’s behalf, his boy was healed (vv. 47-53).
Years ago, when someone in a church was sick, it was a common occurrence for the church to rally around and pray twenty-four hours a day until that person was healed. It wasn’t something they organized; it was Holy Spirit-inspired.
We need to continue in this practice today because “the earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available [dynamic in its working]” (James 5:16 AMP).
It’s God’s will that all be healed.
Today I can bring people before God’s
throne in prayer so Jesus can work His
healing power in their lives. Healing belongs to them
and to me because we serve a good God!
Excerpt permission granted by Harrison House Publishers
For over 40 years, Pastors Mark and Janet Brazee have traveled throughout the world sharing the Word of God and the Spirit of God. Together they've shared the powerful truths of faith and healing in more than 50 nations.
Today Mark and Janet pastor World Outreach Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where they base their ongoing outreach to the world. The Brazees still travel as the Lord leads, and they are raising up a congregation who share their passion to reach Tulsa and the world.