My mom would often say to me and my siblings, “You have head knowledge, but don’t have heart knowledge” whenever we were being hypocrites. We could quote the Bible and knew what it said, but because we were filled with jealousy and selfish ambition rather than love, our mom was saying that our theological head knowledge didn’t amount to a whole lot when we quarreled, complained, beat on, abused, and hated one another.
I just realized that the same principle applies to the subject of healing from sickness. We may have head knowledge about what Matthew 10:8, Mark 16:16, 1 John 2:6, Proverbs 4:20-22, Luke 9:1-6, Isaiah 53:4-5, etc. say. But do we have heart knowledge about those verses (and all the other ones too)? According to Romans 10:9, heart knowledge, not mere intellectual assent or head knowledge, is necessary in order to be saved:
“because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9 ESV)
The Greek word for saved in this verse, or sozo, elsewhere means “healed” from disease and sickness. (1) Thus, physical healing occurs when God’s promises about health and healing the sick pass from head knowledge into heart knowledge. This heart knowledge is called faith--or raising our level of expectation to believe what God says. Faith fully expects God to do what He says His will is. He is willing, and He’ll do His works through us when we trust Him enough to leave our comfort zones and obey Him. If we obey Him and things don't go as expected, we must not become discouraged from doing good. Then we press further into Him in relationship until we see His will manifest in our obedience if we do not give up on his commands and promises. c.f. Galatians 6:8-10.
Question: So how do we get Bible verses and promises to make the journey from the head to the heart?
Answer: Who lives in our hearts if we received Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord? (2).
Answer: The Holy Spirit. c.f. Romans 5:5; Ephesians 1:13; 2 Corinthians 1:22; 1 Corinthians 6:17,19.
If God the Holy Spirit lives in our hearts, might He have a role in getting the head knowledge of the words he authored into our hearts where He set up His residence? It seems to follow that communion (communication in authentic relationship) with the Person of the Holy Spirit will result in our head knowledge being converted into heart knowledge (faith) that will result in acts of love and looking like Jesus in our daily lives. c.f. Galatians 3:5; 5:5-6; 1 John 2:4-6.
In other words, talk to the Holy Spirit, asking Him to help you obey Jesus’ commands, even the “impossible ones” in Matthew 10:8 and elsewhere. What is impossible with man is possible with God, and God lives inside you (if you received Him into your life)! Also ask Him to teach you about Jesus Christ, since that’s another reason God gave you the gift of the Holy Spirit when you believed. c.f. John 14:15-26.
If you haven’t yet started a relationship with Jesus Christ to experience God’s power and love, then see “Would You Like to Kick Satan’s Butt Personally?”
See the blog post Say It Ain’t Sozo!
I aim to answer questions with a question, since Jesus is my model, and that’s typically what he did.
