What Is A “Point Of Contact” And What Does It Have To Do With Healing? In the Bible, there are many "instruments of healing" or "points of contact" that have brought about healing. A "point of contact" is an event that helps you release your faith. I'm going to mention several of these, by no means a complete list, and if you feel an urge in your spirit about any particular thing, it might be something you should check into further. 2 Kings 5:1 Now Naaman was commander of the army of the king of Aram. He was a great man in the sight of his master and highly regarded, because through him the LORD had given victory to Aram. He was a valiant soldier, but he had leprosy. Let's look at a few examples of healing from the Old Testament first. Naaman the Syrian was a mighty man of war and powerful in the kingdom of Syria. But he had a problem: he had leprosy, a wasting disease that make him a social outcast and was usually fatal, causing bodily mutilation along the way to death. There was no cure for leprosy in those days and Naaman was very distraught about his illness. It happened that a young girl from Israel was captured and became his slave. She suggested that he go to Israel and obtain healing from the prophet Elisha. Naaman went to Israel, and received this message from Elisha. 2 Kings 5:10 Elisha sent a messenger to say to him, "Go, wash yourself seven times in the Jordan, and your flesh will be restored and you will be cleansed." Now the Jordan, where Jesus would be baptized almost 900 years later, was a muddy and winding river. It is more likely that a bath in the Jordan would make you dirtier, rather than be cleansing. And Naaman knew this, and became angry about it. 2 Kings 5:11 But Naaman went away angry and said, "I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call on the name of the LORD his God, wave his hand over the spot and cure me of my leprosy. The man of God made a simple request - and had Naaman obeyed, he would have been cleansed from leprosy right then. But he had expected his healing to be manifested in another way - a magical incantation of sorts, and since God did not choose to heal him HIS way, he started to leave. 2 Kings 5:12 Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than any of the waters of Israel? Couldn't I wash in them and be cleansed?" So he turned and went off in a rage. Besides, Naaman said, the rivers of Damascus are better than any waters of Israel, why couldn't he dip in them and be cleansed. Not only did he go away, but he went away seething with rage at such a request! Recall that Naaman was "big cheese" in Syria, commander of the army, the King's friend. He felt that his healing should befit his stature in the land, and wasn't willing to humble himself to do things God's way. NAAMAN ALMOST LOST HIS HEALING BECAUSE OF PRIDE. 2 Kings 5:13 Naaman's servants went to him and said, "My father, if the prophet had told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much more, then, when he tells you, `Wash and be cleansed'!" The story might have ended there, but Naaman was blessed with wise servants. They pointed out that if Naaman's healing had required him to do some great thing, he would have done it. So why not at least try this thing that the prophet of God asked? 1 Samuel 15:22 But Samuel replied: "Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams. Simple obedience to God is often the only thing that is needed to receive your healing. Sometimes your pastor, teacher, elder or Christian friend will be the voice that God speaks with. Or God may speak to you through His Word, or in a still small voice during times of prayer. Listen for God's voice and obey. 2 Kings 5:14 So he went down and dipped himself in the Jordan seven times, as the man of God had told him, and his flesh was restored and became clean like that of a young boy. Naaman the Syrian, the great commander of the army, had to humble himself and dip 7 times in the muddy Jordan to receive healing for leprosy. It was not until he completed the "Seventh Dip" that healing was manifested in his body. 2 Kings 5:15 Then Naaman and all his attendants went back to the man of God. He stood before him and said, "Now I know that there is no God in all the world except in Israel. Please accept now a gift from your servant." Sometimes God chooses to manifest healing before a person believes in Him, sometimes afterwards. Naaman obeyed the voice of the prophet and was healed. His healing convinced him to believe in the one true God of Israel. 2 Kings 5:16 The prophet answered, "As surely as the LORD lives, whom I serve, I will not accept a thing." And even though Naaman urged him, he refused. Then Naaman wanted to bestow some gift on Elisha, but Elisha refused. I mention this because sadly there are some "prophets", "Bible teachers", and/or "healers" who are in it for gain, against God's will. They'll take your cash in a heartbeat, or even REQUIRE payment from you before giving you a prophecy, or a teaching, or laying on of hands to heal you. Matthew 10:8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give. Charging for healing is contrary to Scripture. So if someone wants to "charge you" before they will pray or prophesy for you, beware!!! I bring this up because I was just reading about a so-called prophet who will gladly "give" you a year's worth of prophecy for only $365!!! And if you can't afford that, he'll give you "general advice" for only $120! This is NOT of God. Now God's servants need food and clothing and shelter like anyone else. And free will gifts and donations are always welcomed. We ask upon occasion for donations to the CUSA ministry because of the cost involved. But participation is always free. Healing has already been purchased by Christ's blood. God forbid that anyone would charge you for it. Back to Naaman and his obedience. There was no "magic" in dipping 7 times, and no magic in the Jordan River. Seven is the number of completion or perfection in the Bible, and the number of the day of rest. By being obedient and submerging himself seven times in the muddy water, Naaman's obedience was completed and he received his healing. It took FAITH of course, for Naaman to even dip once! But as he continued to dip and obey God, his faith grew, and the seventh time, he was not only healed, but his skin became like a young boys! God may quicken in your spirit some physical act that you need to perform to receive healing. I don't know what your "Seventh Dip" might be, but be sensitive to what God is telling you. My brother who is 2 years younger than me, has good health, and a "six pack" when most men his age are flabby. He constantly does exercises and stretching in sets of 7, while driving to work and sometimes at work, such as holding in his stomach in or leg lifts. He tells me that not only does it keep him toned up and maintain his health, but by doing it 7 times it reminds him of God's goodness and becomes a time of worship as well. Also in the Old Testament, the Israelites had sinned by murmuring against God and venomous snakes were biting and killing them, but the Lord had Moses to made a bronze snake and put it on a pole. Numbers 21:9 So Moses made a bronze snake and put it up on a pole. Then when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, he lived. When the people focused on the cause of their pain, they died. But when they focused on the bronze serpent, they lived. The serpent was a "type" and a symbol of the Lord Jesus Christ who was "lifted up" on a pole (the cross) and became sin for us. John 3:14-15 Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. So focus on the Lord who heals you and not on the symptoms of the disease which is afflicting you. Meditate on the fact that Jesus suffered to bring you not only forgiveness of sin, but health and healing. What we focus on becomes magnified in our lives. If we focus on the symptoms of the disease or disability, it becomes magnified out of proportion, and blocks our view of Christ. But if we focus on Jesus, our sacrifice for sins, and let Him fill our vision, then the symptoms become less important, and our faith built up to have Jesus remove them. Isaiah 58:6 "Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? An often overlooked route to healing is fasting - in which you sacrifice something, such as food typically, and devote the time you normally spent on that activity to worship and seeking God. Now if you fast to be "seen of men", it will not improve your health. And the Israelites in Isaiah's day had reduced fasting to an outward ritual that they felt it was their duty to do, and were missing the real purpose of it. True fasting will cleans you inwardly and will help you focus on God and what His will is, which includes not only your healing, but being sensitive to the needs of others. In verse 6, Isaiah mentions loosing yokes and chains - not only in your life but in the lives of others. Do you have a desire to see alcoholics and drug addicts set free? Do you have a desire to seek people delivered from demon bondage and affliction? Do you have an interest in seeing justice done, whether it profits you or not? This kind of attitude comes with true fasting. Isaiah 58:7 Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter-- when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood? Again, when you fast, the emphasis should not be on your needs or your piety, but on the needs of others: sharing food with the hungry, shelter for the homeless, clothing the naked, and taking care of your own relatives. OK, now here comes the promise of healing! Isaiah 58:8 Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and YOUR HEALING WILL QUICKLY APPEAR; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard. THEN, Isaiah says, your healing will QUICKLY appear, and God will guard your back against further attacks from the devil on your body. Focus on the needs of others, extend yourself to aid those in need, and your healing will be manifested quickly! So, another route to healing in the Old Testament is fasting, which includes not only depriving yourself of food, or other things you feel the need to give up for Jesus. It goes way beyond that - from spending more time with God in prayer to caring for others and sacrificial service. And the Bible says that this will impact your healing quickly. Matthew 17:20-21 He replied, "Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, `Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you. But this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting." When the disciples tried to cast out a particularly rebellious demon, but could not, Jesus told them it was because they had so little faith. Here Jesus indicated that prayer and fasting would increase their faith, and give them more power over the enemy. So fasting may be something you want to consider in obtaining more faith to receive healing. In the New Testament, healing accompanied the Lord wherever He went. Some accounts do not tell us what Jesus specifically did, others give very detailed accounts. On one case, a woman reached out in faith without Jesus knowing it (she thought), and touched Him and was healed as well. Mark 5:25-26 And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse. Even in Bible times, we have examples of people who suffer many years because their body cannot repair itself, and who have not been able to receive healing from medicine. In fact, some like this lady, even get worse. Aren't you glad that we can go to the Great Physician in cases like this? Mark 5:27-28 When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, because she thought, "If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed." Here we see that this woman's "point of contact" has the edge or fringes of Christ's garment or cloak. There was no magic in His cloak. It was just her way to release her faith. The woman said to herself, notice that no one else was aware of what she was about to do, "IF I only touch his cloak, I WILL be healed". Now you may not be aware of this, but when a woman had an issue of blood, if a man touched her, he would be considered "unclean" and have to go through a ritual to cleanse himself. So she couldn't have ASKED Jesus to touch her, she would have, by the law, made him spiritually impure. So instead, she must have reasoned in her heart, if I touch Him it will be okay, He'll never notice, and I will be healed. Mark 5:29-30 Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering. At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, "Who touched my clothes?" When she touched Jesus, her healing was immediate, and her faith drew power out of Jesus and He realized it at that same moment, and asked, "Who touched me? Mark 5:31-32 "You see the people crowding against you," his disciples answered, "and yet you can ask, `Who touched me?'" But Jesus kept looking around to see who had done it. The disciples wondered because of all the people crowded around him, how could Jesus discern a single touch? But you see it was the WAY the woman touched Jesus - by faith. When she touched Jesus, she released her faith and received her healing "on the spot". Mark 5:33 Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and, trembling with fear, told him the whole truth. Why was the woman trembling with fear? She had not only touched a rabbi (teacher), but she had knowingly made him "unclean". She felt perhaps that she would be punished for her boldness and sin, but what did Jesus tell her? Mark 5:34 He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering." Glory! Reaching out and touching His garment had been her "point of contact" to release her faith, but it was her faith in Jesus that drew healing power out of Him and brought her healing and freedom from her suffering. Matthew 14:34-36 When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret. And when the men of that place recognized Jesus, they sent word to all the surrounding country. People brought all their sick to him and begged him to let the sick just touch the edge of his cloak, and all who touched him were healed. Now this woman was the first that we have recorded that reached out and touched Jesus garment by faith, but she was not the last. In the land of Gennesaret, when the people recognized Jesus, they brought ALL their sick to Him. Now the sick were brought TO Jesus by family and friends, but it was their individual faith demonstrated by reaching out and touching His garment that brought their healing. Notice that it says " all who touched him were healed". Not a single one who reached out and touched Jesus was left sick or lame or leprous. ALL who touched Jesus WERE healed. How do we reach out and touch Jesus today? He is not walking among us, we can't reach out and touch the cloak He's wearing. We don't need physical contact with Jesus to be healed, just faith in Him. But if there is a man or woman of God who is ministering the gift of healing, often your faith will be boosted by theirs, and touching them helps you release your faith in a greater way. In fact, in the New Testament, the power of God was manifested so strongly that even the shadow of God's servant falling on a person would bring healing. Acts 5:12-13 The apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders among the people. And all the believers used to meet together in Solomon's Colonnade. No one else dared join them, even though they were highly regarded by the people. Acts 5:14-15 Nevertheless, more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number. As a result, people brought the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and mats so that at least Peter's shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by. Acts 5:16 Crowds gathered also from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those tormented by evil spirits, and all of them were healed. Notice again that ALL of the sick and ALL of those tormented by evil spirits were healed when Peter's shadow fell upon them as he passed by. The gifts of healings and miracles were manifested so strongly, that just being in the presence of Peter brought healing without even a touch. Now some teach that healing is not for today, and that the gifts of healings and miracles no longer are manifested in the Church. If you believe this, you have my condolences, because you have cut yourself off from a valid source of healing. But why should healing end? We aren't glorified yet. Our bodies are still subject to death and disease. Oh Gracious Father, that you would still send apostles who manifest your gifts of healings and miracles. Grant it we pray, as your children are dying for lack of knowledge of healing! AMEN Acts 19:11-12 God did extraordinary miracles through Paul, so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, and their illnesses were cured and the evil spirits left them. Talk about your "point of contact"! Paul was so full of the power of God that even aprons and handkerchiefs that had touched him carried the power of healing. Now I know that this handkerchief thing has been abused by some ministers who sell "prayer cloths" for money. But I also have heard testimonies of people who have taken handkerchiefs that were anointed and prayed over, and used these as a point of contact for healing. . Let's look at a couple more. Remember if any of these seem to quicken your spirit or catch your attention, take some time and research that event thoroughly and listen to what the Holy Spirit tells you to do about it. Mark 8: 22-25 They came to Bethsaida, and some people brought a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him. He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village. When he had spit on the man's eyes and put his hands on him, Jesus asked, "Do you see anything?" I don't know how many people today would be humble enough or desperate to let a servant of God spit on them for healing! But Jesus did it, and also laid His hands on the blind man. The use of saliva for cures was recognized by the Jewish rabbis, although the custom seems strange to us today. He looked up and said, "I see people; they look like trees walking around." Once more Jesus put his hands on the man's eyes. Then his eyes were opened, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly. This is an interesting event, because it is an example of gradual healing. We'd all like to be instantly healed and have all the symptoms gone, wouldn’t' we? But sometimes healing occurs in stages. This was a healing in two stages. Jesus put his hands on the man once and he could see, but his vision was blurred. So Jesus put his hands on him again, and he saw everything clearly. John 9:1, 6 As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. Having said this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man's eyes. "Go," he told him, "wash in the Pool of Siloam" (this word means Sent). So the man went and washed, and came home seeing. Here is another account of Jesus using saliva and mud to bring about a healing. In this case the man was told to go and wash in the Pool of Siloam. The man went where he was "Sent", was obedient and washed, and then he came home seeing! Luke 4:40 When the sun was setting, the people brought to Jesus all who had various kinds of sickness, and laying his hands on each one, he healed them. The most usual way that Jesus healed was through the laying on of hands. Having hands laid on you as a point of contact for healing was also practiced by believers in the New Testament. And it is practiced in some churches today. So if you are having problems believing for healing, a point of contact to release your faith may be to have other believers lay their hands on you and pray for you. Mark 16:18 And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; THEY WILL PLACE THEIR HANDS ON SICK PEOPLE, AND THEY WILL GET WELL." One of the signs that is to follow every believer is the ability to lay hands on the sick and they shall recover. That includes laying hands on yourself if need be! So if you need healing, find some believers, have them agree with your in prayer and lay hands on you, and claim your healing in Jesus Name! Acts 9:17 Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, "Brother Saul, the Lord--Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here--has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit." Here is another example of a believer laying hands on a person for healing. Now today this is somewhat unusual, but in the New Testament, laying on of hands was considered an elementary truth: Hebrews 6:1-2 Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God, instruction about baptisms, THE LAYING ON OF HANDS, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. Mark 10:46-47 Then they came to Jericho. As Jesus and his disciples, together with a large crowd, were leaving the city, a blind man, Bartimaeus (that is, the Son of Timaeus), was sitting by the roadside begging. When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" Here is an interesting healing that came about because of blind Bartimaeus' crying out and insisting on getting Jesus' attention - persistence in faith. This man wasn't sitting by the road quietly whimpering, "Woe is me, I can't see". He was shouting out for Jesus' attention. Mark 10:48-49 Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!" Jesus stopped and said, "Call him." So they called to the blind man, "Cheer up! On your feet! He's calling you." Many tried to shut him up. They "rebuked" him, chastised him for calling out to the Lord, and told him to be quiet. But he would not listen. He SHOUTED all the more. Here was his chance for healing and he was NOT going to let it pass him by. Jesus stopped at the blind man's shout, and called the blind man to get up and come to Jesus. Mark 10:50-51Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus. "What do you want me to do for you?" Jesus asked him. The blind man said, "Rabbi, I want to see." The blind man didn't hesitate. He jumped up, threw his outer garment aside and came to Jesus. Jesus asked what he wanted, and Bartimaeus declared, "Teacher I want to SEE!" Sometimes we need to shout our petitions to God, and declare just what we want God to do for us. Psalms 20:5 We will shout for joy when you are victorious and will lift up our banners in the name of our God. May the LORD grant all your requests. Does shouting have anything to do with getting your prayers answered? This verse says it does. Psalms 71:23-24 My lips will shout for joy when I sing praise to you-- I, whom you have redeemed. My tongue will tell of your righteous acts all day long, for those who wanted to harm me have been put to shame and confusion. Now some churches don't agree with shouting out to God, and they will try to "rebuke" you and tell you that you are "out of order". Of course Psalms says, "SHOUT". Some diseases need to be "shouted out". Praise the Lord. Declare your victory in a loud voice! Isaiah 49:13 Shout for joy, O heavens; rejoice, O earth; burst into song, O mountains! For the LORD comforts his people and will have compassion on his afflicted ones. Shout for joy! For the Lord has compassion on His afflicted ones. Shout your need to him and receive His healing by faith! If you need healing, shout it out! Be persistent. Call upon the Lord in faith. Mark 10:52"Go," said Jesus, "your faith has healed you." Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road. After the blind man manifested his faith by calling out to the Lord, Jesus simply said, "Go, your faith has healed you". And IMMEDIATELY he received his sight and began to follow Jesus. All of these healings came about because of a “point of contact” or an event that caused the sick person to release their faith. For Naaman, it was dipping 7 times in the Jordan. The Israelites gazed upon a brazen serpent on a pole, a type of the Lord Jesus Christ. Isaiah advised fasting and sacrificial service. The woman with an issue of blood released her faith when she reached out and touched the hem of Jesus' garment. Another "point of contact" is being in the "shadow" or presence of a man or woman of God, such as Peter, and aprons and handkerchiefs blessed by a man or woman of God, Paul being an example of that. We also looked at many cases where people either reached out and touched Jesus or where Jesus touched them. Jesus also anointed some with saliva and/or mud, and often gave instructions for them to follow. We saw how the man born blind reached out by shouting out his faith. Remember if any of these seem to quicken your spirit or catch your attention, take some time and research that event thoroughly and listen to what the Holy Spirit tells you to do about it. Now for a personal example of a “point of contact”: My mom couldn't have children due to a reversed womb, although she greatly longed for them. She and my father tried to conceive for 9 years without success. She went to a healing service in Charlotte NC led by Bro. Oral Roberts in his tent. It was May 2, 1950. In those days, so many came to be healed that he had to give out prayer cards, so that he could be sure to be able to pray for them. When my mom saw all the hurting in wheelchairs and on beds and such, she refused a card because she didn't want to deprive a really sick person of the chance to be prayed for - that's just the way she is! She wasn't even asking for the miracle of birth. She wanted to be healed from a sinus infection. She saw many miracles, and mid-way through the service Brother Roberts paused and told them that they could be healed right where they were. He instructed them to raise their right hands and touch the seat in front of them as a POINT OF CONTACT. Then he began to pray. Mom said that something happened then that she had never felt before and has never felt since. She placed her left hand on the seat in front of her. When she raised her right hand, it was as if it were hit by a bolt of electricity that traveled all through her body. She knew she was healed of the sinus infection. But the Lord had more for her! She went home, and a year later in the same month, I was born! That was an instantaneous healing with pretty quick results! And I am her natural born child. What the dr. said was impossible, God did anyway! Is a “point of contact” necessary for healing? No, it is simply an event that helps you release your faith. Healing is received like any gift from God, such as salvation, by faith. Study the events mentioned here, and the other incidents of healing described in the Bible. If the Holy Spirit brings a “point of contact” to your attention, be obedient and release your faith!