"Healing For Today" Teaching Outline
A Scriptural Study of Healing in the Life of our Lord and His Church
Pastor Don Bartow

My Thesis
Outline now included in the book "Yes, Virginia, there Is A God Who Heals Today!"

The lifestyle of our Lord Jesus Christ was one of wholeness. He wants His followers to pursue this same lifestyle. My thesis is supported by New Testament teaching:

• That healing was central to Christ's ministry
• That His disciples of all ages are to heal in His Name
• That He expected His early followers to do as He did

I feel my thesis is also supported by my own personal experiences. I was called by the Lord to proclaim healing for our day. I was definitely called to be& & a Proclaimer; not an Explainer. I have seen many miracles of spirit, soul, and body

Please Note: A detailed study of healing for our day is presented in Bartow's HEALING HANDBOOK.   Other resources and leadership materials relating to prayer and healing are available from the Total Living Center. 

Questions To Ponder
(The numbers in parenthesis refer to the pages
in Bartow's HEALING HANDBOOKwhere the topic is considered.)

1. Why do I teach that healing is for today? (15, 27)
2. What were the first things Jesus did in public ministry? (573)
3. How did Christ appraise His own ministry? (214)
4. How did others appraise the ministry of Jesus? (218)
5. What did Jesus command His disciples to do? (216)
6. With whom did Jesus visit on the Mount of Transfiguration?
7. What is the real purpose and message of the Sermon on the Mount?
8. What did Jesus tell His disciples to do before He ascended? (136)
9. To whom did Jesus tell Nicodemus to witness? (574)
10. Is there any gospel account of anyone being brought to Jesus to have sins forgiven? (579)
11. How late in His ministry did Jesus heal?
12. Were healings a part of the experiences of the early church?(137)
13. Has Jesus changed?
14. What is your response to the scripture references to healing?(533)
15. Do you feel your faith is strengthened through study concerning the miracles of the Old and New Testaments? (121,126)

Healing Is For Today Outline

1. Why do I teach that healing in the Name of Jesus is for today? (15, 27)  

1. I was called of the Lord to do so.
2. He healed me of a serious disease.
3. My sacred vow to proclaim healing until the day I die.

2. What were the first things Jesus did in public ministry? (573)  

1. Matthew 4:17 Taught and preached repentance.
2. Matthew 4:19 Called disciples.
3. Matthew 4:23,24 Healed the sick.

3. How did Christ appraise His own ministry? (214)  

1. Luke 4:16-24 Liberty to captives & set.prisoners free.
2. Matthew 11:2-6 Response to John's disciples.
3. Luke 13:32 Response to Herod's threats.
4. John 5:36 Difference between His ministry and John's.
5. John 9:3,4 His work the works of God & healed blind man.
6. John 10:37,38 We should believe for works sake.
7. John 6:26 Believers should learn to do miracles.
8. John 6:2 Jesus did many of them.

4. How did others appraise the ministry of Jesus? (218)  

1. Matthew 14:2 Herod referred to the miracles.
2. John 3:2 Nicodemus came to Him because of the miracles.
3. Matthew 11:2,3 The miracles impressed John's disciples.
4. Acts 10:38 Peter summarized His ministry as healing.
5. Luke 24:19 The two on the way to Emmaus spoke of His deeds.
6. John 7:3 His brothers said He should do miracles in Jerusalem.
7. John 7:31 Many referred to His miracles as proof.
8. Acts 4:19,30 Obey the Lord through believing for healings.
9. John 2:23 Many believed because of His miracles.
10. John 4:45 Received by those having seen His miracles.

5. What did Jesus command His disciples to do? (216)

He commanded them to proclaim repentance, teach the Kingdom of God is at hand, and to heal the sick.  

1. Matthew 10:1,7,8 He sent out the 12 to heal.
2. Mark 3:13-15 He sent out the 12 to heal.
3. Mark 6:7-13 He sent out the 12 to heal.
4. Luke 9:1,2 He sent out the 12 to heal.
5. Luke 10:9,17 He sent out the 70 to heal.
6. Mark 16:17,18 He said those who believe will LOH and heal.
7. John 14:12 Believers shall do mighty works.
8. Matthew 28:20 Disciples are to do all He commanded them. He does not tell His followers to teach what He had told Nicodemus.
9. Matthew 28:18; Mark 16:17-20; Luke 24:49; Acts 4:4-8 Jesus did not heal after His resurrection. Now to be done by His followers.

6. With whom did Jesus visit on the Mount of Transfiguration?  

1. Matthew 17:3 He visited with two Old Testament miracle workers:

1. Moses - Miracles 5-40 (121).
2. Elijah - Miracles 52-59 (123).

7. What is the real purpose and message of the Sermon on the Mount? 

The real purpose of the Sermon on the Mount is to teach us the truths of the Kingdom which release the power of the Lord in the life of a believer. The truths of the Sermon on the Mount are given not simply to make us good moral people, but to have us be God's children with power. For instance:  

1. Matthew 7:7,8 Expect great things as you Ask, Seek, and Knock.
2. Matthew 5:16 Go public with your good works. There is no record of a private healing by Jesus.
3. Matthew 6:6 Go private for prayer. There is no record of a long public prayer by Jesus.
4. Matthew 7:11 The Lord will heal because He is the giver of good gifts unto His children.
5. Matthew 6:33 The Kingdom brings the solutions. Our apparent solutions do not bring the Kingdom.

8. What did Jesus tell His disciples to do before He ascended? (136)  

1. Matthew 28:20 Jesus told them to teach all that He had commanded them. There are seven times in the gospels where it is recorded believers should go forth and heal. He does not say go and teach all that I privately told Nicodemus. (See question 5)

9. To whom did Jesus tell Nicodemus to witness?  

1. John 3:1-7 (574) There is no record that Jesus told Nicodemus to tell anyone about their private conversation. Yet, has not the church traditionally majored in John 3 and neglected the many times Jesus instructed His disciples to heal? It is true, you cannot be whole without being born again, but you can be born again without proclaiming healing and wholeness in the Name of Jesus.(483)

10. Is there any gospel account of any one being brought to Jesus to have sins forgiven? (579)

No! People brought others for healing. There is no record of an individual coming to, or being brought to Jesus requesting that her or his sins be forgiven. (575) The following are some of the gospel accounts of individuals being brought to Jesus:  

1. Matthew 4:24 Many of the ill.
2. Matthew 8:16 Many demon possessed.
3. Matthew 9:2 Paralytic.
4. Matthew 9:32 Demon possessed who could not talk.
5. Matthew 12:22 Blind and mute demon possessed man.
6. Matthew 14:35 People brought all their sick.
7. Matthew 17:17 The boy suffering from seizures.
8. Mark 1:32 All the sick and demon-possessed.
9. Mark 9:17 Son possessed by a spirit and unable to speak.
10. Luke 4:40 All who had various diseases.
11. Luke 5:18 Paralytic lowered through the roof.
12. Luke 18:40 Jesus orders the blind man brought to Him.

11. How late in His ministry did Jesus heal? 

Jesus healed up to the very end of His earthly ministry. Consider:  

1. Luke 19:37 Just prior to what we call Palm Sunday.
2. Matthew 21:14 Palm Sunday.
3. Luke 22:51 Healed the ear in the Garden of betrayal.
4. Luke 23:8 Herod was aware of recent miracles of Jesus.
5. Isaiah 53:4-6; John 19:30; I Peter 2:24 Healed our sins.
6. Matthew 27:51-53 Many came out of the graves when Christ died.

12. Were healings a part of the experiences of the early church? (137)  

1. Acts 2:43 Many wonders and signs done by the apostles.
2. Acts 3:1-11 Lame man healed by Peter and John.
3. Acts 4:14 The religious leaders saw the one who was healed.
4. Acts 4:30 The believers asked the Lord to heal.
5. Acts 5:12 Many signs and wonders by the apostles.
6. Acts 5:15 Sick healed with shadow of Peter passing over them.
7. Acts 5:16 Many sick brought to Jerusalem to be healed.
8. Acts 6:8 Stephen did great wonders and miracles.
9. Acts 8:5-8 Philip did many miracles.
10. Acts 8:13 Simon was amazed at the miracles and signs.
11. Acts 9:17,18 Ananias laid hands on Saul and Saul was healed.
12. Acts 9:33-35 Aeneas healed by Peter.
13. Acts 9:40,41 Dorcas restored to life by Peter.
14. Acts 14:3 Paul and Barnabas did many signs and wonders.
15. Acts 14:8 10 Paul heals the crippled man at Lystra.
16. Acts 16:16 Paul commands evil spirit to leave damsel.
17. Acts 19:10-12,20 Many miracles by the hands of Paul.
18. Acts 20:7-12 Eutychus restored to life by Paul.
19. Acts 28:1-6 Paul unaffected by viper's bite.
20. Acts 28:8 Paul heals Publius's father.
21. Acts 28:9 Many others on the island healed by Paul.
22. Romans 15:18,19 Paul stresses signs and wonders.
23. I Corinthians 12:9, 27-30 Gifts of healing.
24. II Corinthians 12:12 Apostleship vindicated through signs and wonders.
25. Galatians 3:5 Reference to miracles by the one ministering.
26. Ephesians 1:19; 3:7 Working of His mighty power.
27. I Thessalonians 1:5 The gospel came in power, not just words.
28. II Thessalonians 1:11 Work of faith with power.
29. Hebrews 6:2 Laying on of hands a foundation of the church.
30. James 5:14 Anoint the sick.
31. I Peter 2:24 By His stripes you were healed.
32. III John 1:2 Be in health.
33. Revelation 21:4 Wonderful final healing.
34. Revelation 22:2 Ultimately the healing of the nations.

13. Has Jesus changed?

No, He has not changed. The Bible speaks of Him as,  

1. "Jesus Christ the same yesterday, to day, for ever." Hebrews 13:8

14. What is your response to the scriptural references to healing? (533)  

1. Should you ignore it?
2. Should you learn more about healing for our day?
3. Should you distribute this comprehensive outline to others?

15. Do you feel your faith is strengthened through study concerning the miracles of the Old and New Testaments? (121, 126)

Study of His Word in the light of His miracle working power will strengthen your faith. Bartow's HEALING HANDBOOK lists many of the Old Testament miracles (121) Also, many from the New Testament. (126)

Some the New Testament ones are:  

1. Matthew 1:18 Mary with child through the Holy Spirit.
2. John 2:7-9 Water changed to wine.
3. John 4:50 Nobleman's son healed.
4. Mark 1:25; Luke 4:35 Demoniac healed.
5. Matthew 8:15; Mark 1:31; Luke 4:39 Peter's mother-in-law healed.
6. Luke 5:5,6 A great number of fish caught.
7. Matthew 8:3; Mark 1:41 A leper healed.
8. Matthew 9:2,6,7; Mark 2:5,10-12; Luke 5:20,24,25 Paralytic healed.
9. Matthew 12:13; Mark 3:5; Luke 6:10 Withered hand healed.
10. Matthew 8:13; Luke 7:10 Centurian's servant healed.
11. Luke 7:14 Widow's son raised from the dead.
12. Matthew 8:26; Mark 4:39; Luke 8:24 Stormy sea calmed.
13. Matthew 8:32; Mark 5:8; Luke 8:33 Gadarene demoniac healed.
14. Matthew 9:22; Mark 5:29; Luke 8:44 Woman with bleeding healed.
15. Matthew 9:25; Mark 5:41; Luke 8:54 Jairus' daughter raised.
16. Matthew 9:29 Two blind men healed.
17. Matthew 9:33 Dumb demoniac healed.
18. John 5:8 Thirty-eight year old invalid healed.
19. Matthew 14:19; Mark 6:41; Luke 9:16; John 6:11 Five thousand fed.
20. Matthew 14:25; Mark 6:48; John 6:19 Walking on the sea.
21. Matthew 15:28; Mark 7:29 Demoniac girl healed.
22. Mark 7:34-35 Deaf man with speech impediment healed.
23. Matthew 15:36; Mark 8:6 Four thousand fed.
24. Mark 8:25 Blind man healed.
25. John 9:7 Man born blind healed.
26. Matthew 17:18; Mark 9:25; Luke 9:42 Demoniac boy healed.
27. Matthew 17:27 Catching a fish with a coin in its mouth.
28. Matthew 12:22; Luke 11:14 Blind and dumb demoniac healed.
29. Luke 13:10-17 Woman with 18 year infirmity healed.
30. Luke 14:4 Man with dropsy healed.
31. Luke 17:11-19 Ten lepers healed.
32. John 11:43-44 Lazarus raised from the dead.
33. Matthew 20:34; Luke 18:42 Blind man healed.
34. Mark 10:46-52 Blind man healed.
35. Matthew 21:19; Mark 11:14 Fig tree destroyed.
36. Luke 22:50,51 Severed ear restored.
37. Matthew 28, Mark 16; Luke 24; John 20 THE RESURRECTION.
38. John 20:26 Jesus appeared in the room without opening the door.
39. John 21:6 A great number of fish caught.

Wholeness Publication, Canton, Ohio
Copyright © 1997. Donald W. Bartow. All rights reserved.