A. A. Allen’s “God Guarantees Your Healing” School
In the previous chapter, we concluded that having faith is a necessary condition for receiving healing. Thousands of promises are easy to find in the Word of God, but each of them can be fulfilled only through faith. Faith is something you can have! Faith is something God gives you!
One day, as Christ was leaving Bethany, He saw a large fig tree that had nothing but leaves on it (see Mark 11:13). He declared that from then on no one would ever eat fruit from that fig tree. This miracle was very significant, although its effect was somewhat delayed. It was a test of faith. Only the next morning, as the disciples passed by the fig tree, they saw that it had dried up from the roots.
Peter was very surprised that the tree had died. Jesus answered him: “Have faith in God. For truly I say to you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart…—it will be done for him, whatever he says” (Mark 11:23). It is clear that everyone can have the faith Jesus had. We can have faith in God—that is, the faith God gives us.
The Price of Faith
God truly gives us faith. God gives faith to everyone who desires it so earnestly that they are willing to pay the necessary price. And that price is obedience, godliness, holiness, following God’s way, a life free from condemnation, and conformity to all the instructions of the Law of God.
The apostle John declares: “…If our heart does not condemn us, then [and only then] we have confidence before God” (1 John 3:21). Faith and confidence based on assurance are one and the same. Webster’s dictionary defines “faith” as complete confidence in a person. We have no doubt that no one can instill greater confidence in us than God!
Faith is not some incomprehensible, frightening feeling capable of causing a nervous shudder. Faith is ordinary, everyday, and manifested in all the routine affairs of life. You write a letter, go to the post office, buy a tiny stamp, stick it in the corner of the envelope, and drop the letter into the mailbox—all with absolute confidence that the person to whom it is addressed will receive it in a few days. You do not experience an overwhelming, sudden, intense feeling about whether your friend will receive the letter. It does not even occur to you to doubt it.
Some people have greater faith in Uncle Sam than in Jesus. But you must understand that there is no reason to doubt God’s promises if you carefully fulfill the part of those promises assigned to you.
If a letter were not taken to the post office or someone forgot to affix a stamp, there would certainly be reason to doubt whether your friend would receive it. Likewise, doubts may arise as to whether your requests have reached God if you are careless about your responsibilities. In that case alone, we will have no grounds for receiving an answer from Him. But if you carefully fulfill your part of God’s promise, He gives you a complete guarantee that He will fulfill the part of the promise assigned to Him—and you will receive healing!
Now that we know exactly what we are trying to obtain, let us consider the biblical methods of receiving healing. No matter how reliable someone we know may be, we can never be sure that they are completely trustworthy until we have become well acquainted with them. Obviously, this is why many people cannot immediately trust God either. We get to know God as we walk in fellowship with Him day by day or read His Word.
“So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God” (Rom. 10:17). Read the Word of God. Read it as you would read a letter from a trusted friend. Regard it as the highest authority. Resolutely turn away from books and conversations that question the truth of the Word of God.
Jesus once accused several Pharisees of honoring Him with their lips rather than with their hearts, “making the word of God of no effect through your tradition…” (Mark 7:13), and “…teaching as doctrines the commandments of men” (Mark 7:7). But their efforts were futile! Many preachers today also reduce God’s promises to nothing because they base their doctrines on what surrounds them rather than on the Word of God. Only the power and effectiveness of the Word of God can lay the foundation on which your faith will grow. Your own or someone else’s weaknesses and failures will never become such a foundation.
And this faith, which has grown in our hearts through the word, must be watered and nourished by genuine love for God. “…Perfect love casts out fear…” (1 John 4:18). Fear is the direct opposite of faith. It kills faith. There is no place for fear in love. You cannot have faith if you do not love God. You may hope that He will heal you. You may even say, “I know He is able.” But you may still not have faith.
Keep God’s commandments
If you love God, you will keep His commandments (see John 14:15, 21, 23). Failure to keep His commandments is why many are unable to have faith. For faith works through love (see Gal. 5:6). Love expresses itself through obedience. Disobedience to God’s known will indicates an absence of faith and love. If we love God, we should be interested in learning and fulfilling His will.
In my view, the greatest hindrance to faith today is disobedience. John says: “Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence toward God. And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight” (1 John 3:21–22).
True, living, effective faith is impossible when a person’s inner world is not in agreement with the Spirit of God, because such a person does not live according to God’s commandments.
Many people who openly profess their Christian commitment live under constant condemnation for sin and disobedience to the known will of God. Such people will never have true faith until they first repent of their sins and put an end to them once and for all. Only then will the compulsion disappear. Only then will they be able to cleanse their consciences, and God will instill in them perfect confidence, which will become the foundation of their boldness, or faith.
Receive the Holy Spirit
The boldness of some people can easily be destroyed because they live under condemnation rather than in the light of God's Law concerning baptism in the Holy Spirit. This light has already come into the world, but such people do not yet walk in it. They already know what glorious miracle they are to participate in, but they have not yet fulfilled the conditions that make it possible to receive it.
“Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” (Acts 19:2). This question can in no way be considered unfavorable toward Christians. Paul himself asked it of a group of twelve believers in Ephesus. Every Christian must receive the Holy Spirit, not only because it is God's command (which in itself is reason enough), but also because Christians simply need this power for ministry and for bearing witness about the Lord.
In the New Testament Church, every believer in the groups of Christians mentioned in the New Testament was baptized in the Holy Spirit and converted to the new faith, and after their conversion all of Jesus' disciples were saved. He sent them to proclaim the Good News, heal the sick, and gave them authority over all demons (see Luke 9:1–2). Their names were written in heaven (see Luke 10:20), symbolizing their salvation. And Jesus “commanded them: Do not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which you have heard from Me; for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now” (Acts 1:4–5).
“And behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but remain in the city of Jerusalem until you are clothed with power from on high” (Luke 24:49). This is not merely an instruction to a few people who lived long ago; it is intended for all Christians living today as well. Addressing those who were the first to be filled with the Holy Spirit, Peter proclaimed: “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call” (Acts 2:38–39).
For many, baptism is a great honor bestowed from above rather than a clearly stated commandment. But it is indeed a commandment, for Paul also said: “And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18). And if this truly is nothing other than God's commandment, there can be only one response to it: unquestioning obedience. Those who have come into the light of God's truth must walk in that light, and failure may lead to condemnation or judgment.
“And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil” (John 3:19). Many today live under condemnation to one degree or another because they have not committed themselves to absolute obedience to the glorious gift they have received—baptism in the Holy Spirit.
The following passage sheds light on the fact that only those obedient to God's Law received the Holy Spirit: “And we are His witnesses to these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him” (Acts 5:32). This verse makes it clear that if you have not been filled with the Holy Spirit, you cannot be truly obedient. And if you are not truly obedient, then you are disobedient. Disobedience is sin, sin leads to condemnation, and condemnation destroys faith.
Abide in Christ
“If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask whatever you desire, and it will be done for you” (John 15:7). A person must abide in Christ and sense within themselves a readiness for true faith even before receiving the faith God will give them. God does not give faith to those who do not abide in Him. If He gave faith to everyone, anyone—including a drunkard, prostitute, thief, murderer, or enemy of the Kingdom of Heaven—could acquire faith and believe; then He would have to give such a person whatever they asked. But since God’s blessings are only for those who serve Him and give Him first place in their lives, it is necessary to abide in Christ even before acquiring faith and beginning to believe.
Let us turn to the Word of God for an explanation of what “abiding in Christ” means. “Whoever says he abides in Him ought to walk in the same way in which He walked” (1 John 2:6). From this verse it becomes clear that if we openly declare that we abide in Christ, we must walk in Christ as He Himself walked. Friends, if you do not walk as Christ walked, then you do not abide in Him, and it is no wonder that you have no faith! You will not be able to build a firm foundation for your faith until you abide in Christ and walk as He walked. And this is not merely possible—it is God’s command.
“Christ suffered for us, leaving us an example so that we should follow in His footsteps: He committed no sin…” (1 Peter 2:21–22). Christ did not live in innate sin. He made no exceptions to justify sin. He resisted the devil and temptation, even though He was “tempted in every way, just as we are—yet without sin” (Hebrews 4:15). He is our example. And He is always ready to help us walk as He walked—in His footsteps. “Everyone who abides in Him does not sin…” (1 John 3:6).
I know that these statements contradict many modern religious views. I also know that many people who desire to become children of God and believe in healing from above offer prayer after prayer without having the ability to exercise faith for healing.
The unsuccessful attempts of these people testify that there is a reason why people continue to experience pain and suffering, endure illness, and cannot obtain healing for their sick bodies. And this reason is not that God shows favoritism. Rather, it is because the weak person has not paid the necessary price for faith, which consists in obedience and holiness.
Live a Godly Life
Hope is available to people without holiness, or godliness, but faith—never! If people without holiness had faith, they would receive from God whatever they desired, because God guarantees this to those who have faith. “And whatever you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive” (Matthew 21:22). God also said: “Strive for peace… and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord” (Hebrews 12:14).
Today it is widely said that life is impossible without sin and that, by living in this world, we become participants in some of the sins of this life. Those who teach these doctrines quote numerous passages from the Bible intended for unconverted people who have not been saved. But God says: “…be holy, because I am holy” (1 Peter 1:16).
Paul testifies: “…Come to your senses, as you ought, and stop sinning; for to your shame I say that some of you do not know God” (1 Corinthians 15:34).
This verse speaks of those who find justification for their innate sins and who have no knowledge of God. What shame! Such false Christians do not read the Bible.
After Jesus had once healed a man, He met him in the Temple and said to him: “...you are made well. Sin no more, lest something worse happen to you” (John 5:14).
To the Samaritan woman Christ said: “...go, and sin no more” (John 8:11).
“My little children, I write these things to you so that you may not sin...” (1 John 2:1).
Paul raises the question of sin, saying the following in his Epistle to the Romans: “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not!” (Rom. 6:1).
When people increasingly come to share Christ’s own view of sin and begin to abide in Christ, very many will find healing; and books like this one will no longer be needed. But until enlightenment reaches everyone and people become acquainted with the truth, such books still need to be written.
Many people today ask: “Why have I not received healing?” The answer is simple: “Because of a lack of faith, or insufficient faith.” There are many reasons for a lack of faith, the main one being a lack of holiness. Another important reason is that people sometimes neglect regular Bible study. Therefore, it is not surprising that the faith of Christians living today is lacking.
The price that must be paid for faith was named by God Himself. Love God. Read His Word. Keep His commandments. Believe His promises.
For some people, such a price may seem completely unrealistic. But God gives a person the ability to pay it. The same Christ who saves us from sin will sustain those who desire to find support in the power of His mighty authority. “But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one” (2 Thess. 3:3).
“Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, ... be power and authority ... now and forever!” (Jude 24–25).
God not only commands us to abide in Him; He does everything to make this possible. He gives us strength to resist the devil’s temptations. “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it” (1 Cor. 10:13).
I have grounds for concluding that those who earnestly desire to do what pleases God, read the Bible, and offer prayers attain true holiness. These are precisely the people who declare victory over their diseases and ailments, as well as over the power of the enemy. And God gives such people faith.
Faith as a Gift and Fruit of the Spirit
Faith is listed among the other gifts of the Spirit (see 1 Cor. 12:9). Since we are limited by the length of this book, unfortunately we cannot examine in detail the issue of faith as one of the nine gifts. We will only note that the faith mentioned in the Bible passage cited above is understood as a gift of the Holy Spirit. The Church, in turn, teaches us to earnestly desire the greater gifts.
All Christians have greater or lesser faith. Without it, it is impossible even to be saved. At salvation, faith begins to grow as fruit, because faith is the fruit of the Spirit, just like any spiritual gift (see Gal. 5:22). Just as some trees in a garden produce a small harvest of fruit, so some Christians apparently produce very little fruit of the Spirit.
Fruit must first bud, then grow and ripen. To obtain high-quality fruit, it must be properly nourished, just like garden fruit. For faith comes by hearing the Word of God, and a Christian must read the Word of God regularly. Try to remember as many of God’s promises concerning healing from above as possible, and hold fast to them. Quote them again and again. By doing so, you will help your faith grow.
Faith must be based on the Word of God and on the Word of God alone. The experience and testimonies of others may bring hope, but not faith. Faith cannot be based solely on someone else’s experience. Nor can it be based on other people’s feelings or on what someone has seen. When a person witnesses the miraculous power of God healing others, it gives that person hope, but hope is not yet faith. It helps faith, but it cannot replace faith, for “faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God” (Romans 10:17). Base your faith on the Word of God. Do not speak about what you feel or do not feel.
People who relate their healing to their feelings never honor the Word of God. When receiving the Word of God and trying to apply it to their situation, a person may initially feel no change in their health. But the result will certainly come, and that person will definitely experience it, because they are using the faith God gives them. True faith means taking God at His word. The more of the Word of God you hide in your heart, the easier it will be for you to test and fulfill what the Word says.
There are, however, many obstacles to faith, and the next chapter is devoted to this issue. Read it prayerfully and attentively, and follow all the instructions; and God, who is never accompanied by failure, will surely reward you for your obedience with true, living, and effective faith—the faith God gives! Such faith is worthy of God’s guarantee of healing, which cannot fail to be fulfilled.
