Before I proceed, please realize that ‘physical healing’ as seen in the Bible is always a metaphor for ‘spiritual healing’ and restoration. We should realize that the Lord’s view is always toward the eternal, that which is and will be forever.

Now, in accord with the aforementioned, note carefully the words below, so often misused by religion and claimed for physical healing. Simply by reading the words in context it is clear that these verses are obviously prophetically speaking of ‘spiritual healing,’ the forgiveness of sins coming to Israel through their Messiah’s suffering.

“he (Messiah) was wounded for our (Israel’s) transgressions (Law-breaking), he was bruised for our Iniquities (Sins): the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are HEALED. ⁶ All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity (Sins) of us all. (Isaiah 53:5-6 (KJV)

So, contrary to popular Pentecostal/Charismatic religious belief and claims, the “healing” of verse 6 does not concern our physical healing at all, but rather the healing all of the effects of Sin. Note the words “transgression” and “iniquities,” referring in this case to Israels many sins against God as well as the individual’s sins. Here God promises Israel healing and restoration from the effects of their sin… not physical healing. We must read every verse in context.

Our victory as believers is demonstrated in our ‘rest,’ as seen (below) by Jesus healing a woman who had a “spirit of infirmity” and was bowed down for 18 years. Every one of us is born into this world with a “spirit of infirmity,” it’s called the Sin-nature that we gained from Adam, being passed to us in our “body of flesh.” When Jesus healed this woman in the synagogue, the ruler of the synagogue said,

“There are six days on which men ought to work; therefore come and be healed on them, and not on the Sabbath day (the day of rest).” (Luke. 13:14)

What was Jesus’ response?

“The Lord then answered him, and said, Thou hypocrite, doth not each one of you on the sabbath loose his ox or his ass from the stall, and lead him away to watering? ¹⁶ And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day (the day of rest)?” (Luke 13:15-16)

Jesus said that her healing came just by ‘being who she was’ a daughter, or child of Abraham (metaphorically, being who we are as a child of God). Yet some Christians are told and still think; “I’m not doing enough, that’s why I’m not healed.” They can’t believe that the spiritual healing for today comes simply through being “resting” in Christ’s finished work of the cross for us (paying for all our sins) and then resting in His ongoing work in us, renewing our souls, sustaining us, and training us in right living. Therefore, we can believe and say, “Lord Jesus, I’m Okay because You in me… are free from every spiritual disease and so am I.”

The words “healed” and “relaxed” are linked in the Hebrew. One of the Hebrew names of God is Jehovah-Rapha, which means “I, the Lord, am your healing.” (Exo. 15:26) The Hebrew word “rapha” not only means “to heal,” but one of its root definitions also means “relaxed.”

So, our spiritual healing by Christ’s Cross and by His “Spirit of life” is experienced… when we are ‘at rest (relaxed),’ trusting in Christ our Lord, not by us striving to make things in life work out better. Then, our co-death and resurrection with Jesus results in life and wholeness of soul. (Rom. 6:3-4)

So, we should always seek to abide or stay ‘in His rest,’ trusting Him and His eternal plan for us … while in the midst of all things.

God does not say “Wait until all your enemies have been destroyed, until every problem in your life has been resolved, then you can rest.” No, He says, ‘you are seated,’ so “Rest first until I make all your enemies your footstool.”

Paul wrote, “Now thanks be unto God, which ‘always’ causeth us to triumph over (reign) in Christ, …” (2 Cor. 2:14). But, we must admit that often times we don’t triumph or reign over our situations. There’s a mutual abiding involved for grace believers. Yes, He is always in us and we are always in Him… objectively, positionally… but we also need to practice abiding our soul (our mindset) in relying upon our union with Him in our daily living.

We as humans with a wayward past, find it hard to ‘rest’ because our fallen human nature. Living our daily life separated from Christ causes us to lose sight of our security in Christ, makes us inclined toward worry and restlessness. The Devil loves to see the fallen Old Man nature reign, having us to believe that we can only rest when things go well or when we see things have settled down. We can stop saying, “When my child finishes primary school, I will stop worrying and rest.” You know what? After primary school, there is secondary school. Then, after your child completes secondary school, you will say, “I think when my child finishes university, then I will rest.”

We will never rest on this basis of ‘doing’ first, we need to first be at rest in Him.

In the Bible, there were two women who faced a financial situation during a time of famine. Naomi was a woman of God and this is what she said to her daughter-in-law, Ruth. “…My daughter, shall I not seek rest for thee, (so) that it may be well with thee?” (Ruth 3:1) In other words, Naomi told Ruth, “Shall I not seek rest for you, so that things will go well for you?” It’s interesting that Naomi mentioned rest first, as the basis of wellness? But, the fallen human mindset is more inclined to say, “Shall I not seek for things to go well with you, so that then you can rest?”

Yes, our every natural impulse is the opposite of God’s intent for us. Thus, we are being trained by God using our every circumstance, teaching us how to live… in faith. Thereby, we learn to reign over our situations… preparing us for reigning in heaven (2Tim. 2:12).