The Healing Place
The Healing Place
Tracey D. Crocker
Copyright Information Copyright© 2008 by Tracey D. Crocker. Unless otherwise indicated, all scripture is taken from the King James version of the Bible. Unless otherwise indicated, all scripture quotations are taken from the King James Version of the Bible. Scripture quotations marked ( NASB ) taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, © Copyright The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977 Used by permission. Scripture quotations marked ( NKJV ) are taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations stated “Amplified” or marked ( AMP ) are taken from The Amplified Bible, Old Testament. Copyright © 1965, 1987 by The Zondervan Corporation. The Amplified New Testament, copyright © 1954, 1958, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. Scripture quotations marked ( TLB ) are taken from The Living Bible copyright © 1971. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc,. Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All right reserved. Scripture quotations marked ( NIV ) are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked ( NCV ) are taken from the New Century Version, Holy Bible, copyright 1987, 1988, 1991, Word Publishing, Nashville, TN Used with permission.
All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without prior written permission of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews. Making copies of any part of this book for any purpose other than your own personal use is a violation of United States copyright laws.
Table of Contents INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................................8 NAMES OF SICKNESS .......................................................................................................9 WHY SICKNESS ABOUNDS TODAY ......................................................................................11 THE "PERMISSION" OF EVIL .............................................................................................13 ARE THE DAYS OF MIRACLES PAST? ..................................................................................15 WHY IS THERE NO HEALING AS WE SEE IT IN THE BIBLE? ........................................................18 MY CHURCH DOES NOT TEACH HEALING ............................................................................20 WHY IS BODILY HEALING IMPORTANT? ...............................................................................22 DEATH ......................................................................................................................24 AGING - A DIVINE PERSPECTIVE .......................................................................................28 SICKNESS AMONG HEROES IN THE OLD TESTAMENT ...............................................................30 SICKNESS AMONG MINISTERS IN THE NEW TESTAMENT ...........................................................32 WHY ARE PEOPLE WITH STRONG FAITH AND GODLY LIVES SICK ? .............................................34 PREMATURE DEATH ......................................................................................................37 DOES GOD TEACH THROUGH SICKNESS? .............................................................................40 CAUSES FOR SICKNESS ..................................................................................................44 PAUL’S THORN IN THE FLESH ..........................................................................................61 THE CASE OF JOB ........................................................................................................63 THE MAN BORN BLIND IN JOHN 9 .....................................................................................67 DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HEALING & HEALTH ........................................................................68 MEDICAL SCIENCE AND DIVINE HEALING .............................................................................70 WHY SOME ARE NOT HEALED ..........................................................................................72
REASONS FOR HEALING TODAY .......................................................................................79 SOME METHODS OF RECEIVING HEALING ............................................................................86 SOME DIFFICULT OLD TESTAMENT SCRIPTURES ....................................................................91 HEALING IN THE LIGHT OF THE LAW AND JUDGMENT ............................................................92 THE HEALING MINISTRY OF JESUS ....................................................................................94 BODILY HEALING IN THE ATONEMENT ...............................................................................98 HEALING & CHURCH GROWTH .......................................................................................101 APPENDIX A ..............................................................................................................104 FATHER, I PRAISE YOU! THANK YOU FOR HEALING ME! ........................................................132 REFERENCE MATERIALS:...............................................................................................133
May this work bring glory and honor to God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. May you learn the mysteries of the kingdom of light as shown through the scriptures so that you may walk as Jesus walked, talk as Jesus talked, work the miracles Jesus worked and do even greater works than He did so that the kingdom of the Most High God would be advanced.
May you ever be submissive to the will of Father
God, listening closely to His Holy Spirit and doing as He directs. May you truly learn how to be a usable vessel of the healing power of the Holy Spirit. May God give you wisdom and understanding as you read and may he give you boldness and courage as you “do.” May the fruit of your labors add precious souls to the family of God. May we see each other in the heavenly places and hear the words of God to us “well done, my good and faithful servant.”
INTRODUCTION Sickness and disease are causing chaos in the lives of the people of God today. Their lives, careers, families and even ministries are devastated by ailments that cost hundreds and thousands of dollars of our money that leave us still battling the same disease. Sickness and disease have come to be the normal expected way of life. Medical science and doctors, though a gift from God, have taken the place of the Word of God in our homes. People not being healed despite strong faith and prayers, the illness and untimely passing away of those serving God, have all added to weaken faith in Christ as the Healer. There is no doubt in the minds of spirit filled believers that God can heal all sickness or disease. But the lingering doubt is.... will God heal this time or I know that God heals but will he heal me? Incorrect or vague teaching, real doubts from a casual and occasional reading of scriptures, using scriptures out of context and experiences of failures, force God's people to twist the scriptures to apply to their conditions rather than to bring their experiences around to match the perfect will of God. Is there no balm in Gilead to make the sick and wounded whole? Where is the God that healeth thee? Why is there rampant sickness in the temple of God, His Church? Where is the One who went about doing good and healing all that were oppressed by the devil? Where is the One who is the same yesterday and today and forever, the One who healed all manner of sickness and diseases among the people? Has He stopped forgiving all our sins and healing all our diseases? What would Jesus do if He were in our midst today? If there is no healing for today, then let us leave it. But if there is still healing in the life and cross of redemption of our dear Lord Jesus Christ, let us take it with all our might. Please stay in an attitude of prayer as you read through these pages. Desiring to know the perfect will of God in this important area of your life. This book was written for those
• • • • •
Are seeking healing. Who are with all godly sincerity and humility seeking the mind of Christ. Who wish to study “Divine Healing”. Who wish to strengthen the Body of Christ by increasing in knowledge of Jesus Christ, the Great Physician. Who are preparing for active and continuous ministry.
I suggest that you go through each chapter slowly and prayerfully, spending time with Jesus.
• Fast 2 or 3 meals or as often as you can
• Read the Gospels and the Book of Acts as many times as you can • Purpose to settle the matter of Divine Healing once and for all in your lifetime
(instead of having vague notions every time you are confronted with sickness).
Names of Sickness The first step on the road to healing and health is understanding what sickness is. If we can see sickness in the light of the scriptures, we will know what healing is. We don't have healing because we don't know. "My people perish for lack of knowledge?", says the Lord. The dictionary defines sickness as an 'infirmity', 'debility', 'binding', 'holding down' and disease as 'not at ease', 'unnatural softening or dysfunctioning of the physical organs'. How often, we as spirit filled believers have called sickness a blessing in disguise. Ultimately, sickness can turn out to be a blessing in many ways (as all things will work out together for good to them that love God), but it is not God’s way of blessing us. You will see this as we go through the following chapters and scripture references carefully and prayerfully, earnestly seeking God’s perfect will. If sickness is really a blessing, why do we try to escape or prevent it? Why don’t we ask for or allow more of it? In truth, calling sickness “a blessing in disguise” is our terminology. God's names for sickness and diseases in the Bible are startling. A deliberate study of the scriptures shows us that God calls sickness or disease 1. A Captivity Job 42:10 - "The Lord turned the captivity of Job". Job's suffering and sickness were not the Lord's blessing but satan's captivity. Many who have learned to live with illness will not admit that sickness is captivity. But, remember the first time the illness struck. Was there not a sense of frustration or a great desire to be set absolutely free? In Luke 4:18 our Lord said, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; He hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised.” 2. A Curse Deuteronomy chapter 28, the 'Blessings and Curses chapter' in the Bible, clearly reveals sickness to be a curse and health to be a blessing from the Lord. The 61st verse, "Also every sickness and every plague which is not written in the Book of This Law, them will the Lord bring upon thee, until thou be destroyed “, warns the Israelites to fear the Lord and obey His voice, lest prolonged plagues and sickness come on them. "Sickness was a curse - the fruit of disobedience." As life is disrupted, huge amounts of money are spent and all visions shattered or readjusted, do you truly in your heart considered sickness a blessing? God has set before us blessings and a
curses, life and death. (See Deut 11:26, Deut 30: 1, 19) 3. Destruction Psalm 107: 20 - "He sent His Word and healed them and delivered them from their destructions". Sickness is the work of satan, the one who comes 'to steal, to kill and to destroy' (John 10:10). Does not sickness pull you down? Does it not destroy cells in our body? If not attended to, will not sickness finally keep you cowed down and render you ineffective or at least less effective? All sickness is incipient death of something in our physical and or mental constitution. 4. An Oppression Acts 10: 38 says, "How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and power, who went about doing good and healing all that were oppressed of the devil, for God was with Him� In this verse, we see the Godhead combining to free those oppressed of the devil through the healing ministry of Jesus. Now isn't sickness an oppression indeed? One can and should glorify God in any situation, but consider how Jesus attacked sickness with His healing power. 5. A Bondage Luke 13:16 "And ought not this woman being a daughter of Abraham whom satan had bound, lo, these eighteen years be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath day?" When our precious Lord healed this crippled, bent-over woman, he said he was loosing (freeing) her from the bondage of satan. That can mean only one thing – sickness is the binding of the devil. Beloved child of God, if you are crippled in your body, Jesus sees it as a bondage and is intent on loosing you. Many Christians have cherished misconceptions about sickness. But nowhere in the Bible does God call sickness a blessing, but by the above names. If sickness is really a blessing (many believe it to be so) and if it teaches us God's ways, would the Bible not tell us to pray earnestly to be sick?
Why Sickness Abounds Today There is more sickness in the world today than in days gone by. Despite the great advances in medical science, we see more sickness now than before. It is a common enemy. Why is this so? Here are some reasons for this pitiful phenomenon.
•
It is an accepted way of life: Sickness has gained acceptance in the minds of the people. When it comes, we accept it too readily. Sickness is like corruption. Though every body knows corruption is evil and should not be there, very few people are even surprised when they come across it, much less resist it. How often we hear that it is impossible to have a society free of corruption and bribery. Similarly, people have settled it in their hearts that it is impossible to be free from sickness and so it must be accepted when it shows up. Here are some reasons for this wretched phenomenon.
•
It is an expected way of life: This might sound strange but it is true. We too often expect to be sick. For example, when the weather changes, if you say, "Oh, it is raining, I am going to get a cold", - you will. You usually get what you expect. 'For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he.' (Proverbs 23:7). 'Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.' (Luke 6:45) and 'death and life are in the power of the tongue' (Proverbs 18:21). The wisdom of this world teaches us to even provide for medical bills and take medical insurance when God has granted us good health!
•
Increasing Sin: Sin, though not the only cause of sickness, is definitely connected to sickness. Remember that there was no sickness, disease or death before the disobedience and fall of man. Death ruled because of one man’s sin (Romans 5:17). Sin ruled till total death was accomplished (Romans 5:21). Sin is falling short of God’s standards, absence of a living relationship with the Creator or being out of active and approved fellowship with our Father God. There was a time when men lived for over 900 years. As sin increased, the life span began to drop, until the maximum was set at 120 years and later at 80 years. But bless God, that through Jesus Christ, the Sin Destroyer, where sin abounds, His grace will abound much more (Romans 5:20), yes, even unto the complete manifestation of eternal life.
•
There is not enough spiritual resistance against sickness from Christians. We leave the fighting to the doctors. Too often, the will to fight the disease is missing in the patient and his loved ones. Medical science does not recognize the existence of the spirit world and so is often unable to get quickly to the root-cause of the disease. Much of
sickness originates from the realm of the spirit and when it is not withstood spiritually, sickness runs rampant. Doctors at least have the sense and the heart to battle for a person’s life till the end. But many of God’s redeemed children give up so easily, that too saying it is the will of God or by saying a short prayer or by righteously declaring that they have left everything in the hands of God, rather than staying in the place of prayer, seeking the face and the Word of God. In other words, Christians have not grown in this area and so do not have the spiritual stamina to resist sickness and see it destroyed.
•
Germs (viruses) are an evil life or evil spirits. The words spirit and life can be interchanged. There is no understanding of viruses as evil spirits. If you put these germs under a microscope, you will see them move. They have life, an evil life that destroys cells and causes harm to the body. Spirits as we know need a physical body or matter through which they can work. Spirits as we also know respond either positively or negatively to the human voice. Jesus cast the spirits out with His word (Matthew 8:16). We as Christians must learn to resist these germs just as you would resist the devil's band of fallen angels. We must learn to send them out in Jesus' Name.
•
There is more confidence in medical knowledge than the God of knowledge In many a home, God's Word has been set aside and medical reports have become aye and amen. There are many Christians who can reel off lab reports and clinical terms better than a doctor but will grope for a promise or verse on healing. How tragic! It would not be far from the truth to say that the doctor has taken the place of God in many hearts. Is it not true that many believe the doctor’s word more than God’s word? Is it not true that many Christians spend more time in doctors' offices than in church services? Is it not true that many Christians can have a very enlightening conversation with their doctor, but find it impossible to even hear the voice of their Loving Shepherd and Great Physician? This is the reason why even the best of medical science fails at times. Christians, more than anyone else should constantly acknowledge and affirm publicly that God is the fountainhead of all knowledge and wisdom. (See Psalms 31: 19) The Bible records the faithlessness of King Asa who trusted the doctors more than God in spite of knowing Him. 2 Chronicles 16:12 says, “And Asa in the thirty and ninth year of his reign was diseased in his feet, until his disease was exceeding great: yet in his disease he sought not to the LORD, but to the physicians.” But this is not the Divine pattern. The Bible commands us to call for the elders of the Church when sick. James 5: 14, 15 says, "Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: and the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him". If we don't do this we are disobedient and rebellious. In obedience, call the elders first, and then you'll find that the doctors' work gets easier.
The "Permission" of Evil "If sickness is an evil, why did God permit it?" This is a frequently asked question. Evil manifests its self in so many in the world today, that people wonder why in the first place God permitted it at all. This is a question that any seeker of Divine Healing is likely to be faced with. The “permission” of evil can be divided into 2 categories for better understanding Permission in the Heavenlies and Permission in the Earth
The permission of evil in heaven is actually not our scope of study. However in the heavens, it was the rebellion of Lucifer that started it all. Who created Lucifer, the perpetrator of evil? The Book of Genesis teaches us that in the beginning God created all things good. God created everything, including Lucifer. So why did God create Lucifer? Lucifer was perfect when God created him. Ezekiel 28:15 - "Thou was perfect in thy ways from the day that thou was created till iniquity was found in thee". But Lucifer exalted himself against God. He was cast out of heaven because of his rebellion (Isaiah 14: 12-15). God in His foreknowledge would have known that Lucifer would rebel, yet He created him. It is not for us to question why, for - "The secret things belong unto the Lord our God, but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this Law." - Deut, 29:29 and "For now we see through a glass darkly, but then face to face: now I know in part: but then shall I know even as also as I am known." (I Cor 13:12). But soon this mystery will be finished, for Rev 10:7 says, "But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished as He hath declared to His servants the prophets". Till then, we walk by faith in our Holy, Trustworthy and Wise God. But we should remember that he has also prepared hell for the devil and his angels. Mathew 25:41- "Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels" In the earth, evil was permitted by man and not God. In the garden, Adam could have kicked Satan out. He had the free will to choose, but what Adam chose (to disobey God) led to his fall and evil entering the world. God has given man the priceless and unique gift of a free will. The role of this 'free will' is an important issue when discussing the 'permission of evil'. Only to man whom He created in His own image, did God give the freedom and the ability to choose. Each one of us can choose for ourselves to either obey God or disobey. The free will to choose between good and evil still is ours today. It is our privilege to choose God's ways and say, "Not my will but Thine be done". May the Lord give us wisdom and grace to choose aright, so that our diverse functions in the Body of Christ will glorify Him. So what is 'predestination' in the light of 'free will'? This is a much-detailed topic, but we should remember a few important things about predestination as revealed in the Bible: 1. Predestination is based on the foreknowledge of God. Romans 8:29 says, "for whom He did foreknow, He also did predestinate . . . “ God knew who would choose to believe in His Son and
obey Him, and they were predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son and be the children of God. 2. God wants evil to be put out by the Church. Please read Eph. 1: 18-23 slowly. Man permitted evil on the earth. God wants that evil to be put out by men and women who believe in His redemption, full and free. The Son of Man triumphed over the perpetrator of evil at Calvary. Now we, His Body, the Church are predestined to put evil out. "God shall bruise satan under your feet shortly", says Romans 16: 20. Jesus' work at Calvary in defeating the devil is finished. Now you and I will crush him under our feet. This is our glorious predestination in Christ. 3. The Lord's perfect and good will is that we, Christ's body, should make known the manifold wisdom of God to the dark forces of evil. Eph 2:10 - "to the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the Church the manifold wisdom of God". An awesome predestination, isn't it?
Are the days of Miracles Past? Are the days of Miracles Past; this essential question needs to be answered. The general thinking is that healing passed away with the apostles, confining miracles to the biblical days. Many argue that God does not work through miracles in modern times. This is a teaching that is prevalent in Churches in many parts of the world. But such teaching and arguments are a presumptuous interpretation, completely opposed to the Word of God and personal testimonies in the past and in the present days. Those who fiercely oppose divine healing are a real mystery to those filled with the love and compassion of Jesus. It looks like antagonists of divine healing would fight for the right to receive sickness, remain sick and die in sickness! Teachers from such circles invariably interpret scriptures according to their experiences. They resist teaching on healing to such a degree that they prefer to see their students or their listeners and hearers remain sick, and even die. Systematically and deliberately, they prefer sickness to healing. Of course from another side of their mouth, they would talk about God’s Sovereignty and Omnipotence. The Bible clearly warns that no Scripture is of any private interpretation (2 Peter 1:20). No matter what our experiences, we must work on bringing them around to conform to the life of Jesus and the Scriptures, and refrain from limiting the Holy One of Israel. If miracles are indeed past, then a new birth is not possible. The greatest miracle is the new birth. When a person is born again into the Kingdom of God, a miracle takes place in the person’s spirit. In Salvation, the power to cause the new birth penetrates the body and the soul, and recreates the spirit. This is the greatest miracle of them all. If miracles were over, no one can be saved. If that power of the rebirth of the spirit is available today, how much easier it is for that same power of God, to do miracles in the outer layers? The Bible records God's miraculous acts through its entire length and breadth, spanning over 4000 years. God's miracles can be seen • • • • • •
In Creation In His protection of the children of Israel In the ministry of Jesus In the death, resurrection and Ascension of our Lord In His present day ministry and activity In the terrible judgments of God in the Old Testament and in Revelations.
All the above are not natural occurrences but supernatural acts that defy the laws of nature. The Judgments of God foretold in the Book of Revelations, are miracles that cannot be explained by physical processes. Hence, the Bible not only records God's past miracles, but also foretells future miracles. How then could we possibly discount miracles in the present day? Moreover, there is an abundance of documented and undocumented testimonies to miraculous healing. Nita Edwards testifies about God's gracious and powerful healing in her book 'Miracle in the Mirror', 'Beyond the Veil' by Esther Gulhsan tells of another powerful present-day miracle. The list goes on and on. There doctors who will testify to Divine Healing in their own bodies and in many cases of their patients. God fearing doctors, whether Christian or pagan, will acknowledge God’s miraculous
working and intervention in assisting them. It is amazing to observe that in so called pagan nations, miracles in the name of Jesus, both small and great, occur more freely than in other parts of the world.
Church History and Miracles To those who would like to know something from Church History concerning the continued healing ministry of Jesus, please read on. Justin Martyr (165 AD), one of the great Church leaders and scholars of his day says, "For numberless demoniacs throughout the whole world and in your city, many of our Christian men, exorcising them in the name of Jesus Christ, who was crucified under Pontius Pilate, have healed and do heal rendering helpless and driving the possessing devils out of the men, though they could not be cured by all the other exorcists, and those who used incantations and drugs" (Apol. II, Chapter 6) This Apostolic, miracle-working power was in the church down to 165 AD Irenaeus (200 AD) says, "Those who are in truth His disciples, receiving grace from Him, do in His name perform miracles; and they do truly cast out devils. Others still heal the sick by laying their hands upon them, and they are made whole. Yea, moreover, as I have said, the dead even have been raised up, and remained among us for many years. “(Vs.Hermetics, Book I, Chapter 32.) Then down to 200 AD this same Apostolic, miracle working power was in the Church Origen (250 AD) says: "And some give evidence of their having received through their faith a marvelous power by the cures which they perform, invoking no other name over those who need their help than that of the God of all things, and of Jesus, along with a mention of His history. For by these means we too have seen many persons freed from grievous calamities, and from distractions of mind and madness, and countless other ills, which could be cured neither by men or devils" (Contra Celsum Book III, Chapter 24). And down to 250 A.D., Clement (275 A.D.) says: "Let them (young ministers), therefore with fasting and prayer, make their intercessions, and not with the well arranged, and fitly ordered words of learning, but as men who have received the gift of healing confidently, to the glory of God" (Epis. C. XII). Dr. Waterland (Creation and Redemption, page 50) says: "The miraculous gifts continued through the third century, at least." Then he tells how, under Constantine, the Church became flooded with worldliness and began to put its trust in earthly rulers more than in God. But even then those who remained true to God saw miracles performed in His Name. Theodore of Mopsueste (429 A.D.) says: "Many heathen amongst us are being healed by Christians from whatever sickness they have, so abundant are miracles in our midst" (Christlieb Modern Doubt, page 321): Rev. A. Bost (History of United Brethren, page 17) quotes the famous Zinzendorf's words, spoken in 1730: "To believe against hope is the root of the gift of miracles; and I owe this testimony to our beloved church, that Apostolic powers are there manifested. We have had undeniable proofs thereof in the unequivocal discovery of things, persons, and circumstances, which could not humanly have been discovered, in the healing of maladies in themselves incurable, such as cancers, consumptions, when the patient was in the agonies of death, all by means of prayer, or of a single word."
Dr. A. J. Gordon (Ministry o f Healing, page 65) quotes from the Confession of the Waldenses as follows: "Therefore, concerning the anointing of the sick, we hold it as an article of faith, and profess sincerely from the heart, that sick persons, when they ask it, may lawfully be anointed with anointing oil by one who joins with them in praying that it may be efficacious to the healing of the body according to the design and end and effect mentioned by the Apostles, and we profess that such an anointing, performed according to the Apostolic design and practice, will be healing and profitable." No wonder Dr. Gordon says (Ministry of Healing, page 43), "Two streams of blessings started from the personal ministry of our Lord, a stream of healing and a stream of regeneration; the one for the recovery of the body, and the other for the recovery of the soul, and these two flowed on side by side through the Apostolic age. Is it quite reasonable to suppose that the purpose of God was that one should run on through the whole dispensation of the Spirit and that the other should fade away and utterly disappear within a single generation? We think not." Conclusion In the light of so much evidence, it is only too clear that God's miraculous healing power is available today and now. Let me close this chapter with a challenge. Can a professing Christian, if literally confronted by Jesus Christ today, look our Lord in the eye, and confess that the days of miracles are over?
Why is there no Healing as we see it in the Bible? Many people have wondered why divine healing is not so common and powerful now, as seen in the Bible. Healing power is still available, the Healer has not changed (Heb 13:8 -"Jesus Christ the same yesterday, today and forever"). Then why is there no healing today as we see it in the Bible?
•
Lack of Awareness It is happening, but people are not aware of it. How many of God’s people have made a genuine attempt to sit under a ministry of healing and to investigate occurrences of healing? Jesus said, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that believeth on me, the works that I do shall He do also and greater works than these shall he do, because I go unto my Father". If Jesus said that believers would do the same acts of healing which He did and greater ones, it must be true. Miraculous healings are taking place, some are known, and many are not known. The works of the devil are usually freely magnified and reported, while the works of God are hardly ever reported. The good is often buried while evil is gloated over.
•
Lack of Unity There is a severe lack of unity in the Church today. This lack of unity is causing dysfunction in the body, curtailing the healing power of Christ. Eph 2:22 says, "In Him ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit". We are built together, and are meant to be strong together. Power within the Church usually flows in greater measure if there is more bonding. The life of God flows from one member to another, for we are members one of another. It is the lack of unity among believers, lack of compacting in the Body of Christ and loose joinings that is hindering God's power from working. But glory be to God, for this will change, and is changing. Jesus' prayer "neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on Me through their word; that they all may be one even as Thou Father art in me and I in Thee that they may also be one in us; that the world may believe that Thou Lord hast sent Me" (John 17: 20, 21) will be answered. The true world-wide Church of the Lord Jesus Christ is unifying and this alone is causing many to believe in the Resurrected Savior.
•
Unbelief This is a key factor that curbs divine healing. Mathew 17: 19, 20 -Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out? And Jesus said unto them, "Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, if ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, 'Remove hence to yonder place'; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. Here we see Jesus pointing out the disciples' unbelief as the primary reason for their inability to heal the lunatic boy. Hebrews 11:6 says, “… without faith it is impossible to please him….”.Faith is a fight and
as the battle of faith rages on, many Christians have tended to have more faith in sickness than in healing.
•
Dependence on human effort Jeremiah 17:5 says, "Cursed be the man that trusteth in man and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the Lord." Today we have more faith in the arm of flesh than in the Omnipotent God. This distinction toward God is a curse that nullifies divine healing in many cases. If we have trusted more in men than in God, let us repent today. Then, the curse will be lifted and God's healing power will flow.
•
Great healings can bring unrest and persecution This happened to Jesus also. In Luke 8:37, we see how Jesus was asked to leave when He healed the mad man of Gadarea. John 5:16 - "And therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus and sought to slay Him, because He had done these things (healing the cripple at Bethesda) on the Sabbath day." The religious leaders of Jesus' days sought to kill Him because of His healing acts. The same is true today for Jesus said, "If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you" - (John 15:18). Many great healings do not happen (or are subdued) because of the invariable unrest and persecution which will be stirred up in their wake.
•
Miracles won't take place in areas where they won't have any effect Mathew 11:20 - "Then He began to upbraid the cities wherein most of His mighty works were done because they repented not: Woe unto Thee, Chorazin! Woe unto thee Bethsaida! For if the mighty works, which were done in you had been done in Tyre and Siddon, they would have repented long ago in sack cloth and ashes. But I say unto you, it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Siddon at the day of judgement than for you." Inspite of many works by Jesus we find the people of Judea unrepentant. Similarly, in the study of the rich man and Lazarus, the rich man pleads from hell for a man risen from the dead to be sent to preach to his five brothers on earth. But Luke 16: 31 says, “If they hear not Moses and the prophets neither will they be persuaded though one rose from the dead.” Great miracles are rendered useless and unnecessary, in places of pride that lack repentance.
•
Ignored Warnings Miraculous healing acts may not take place as a result of ignored warnings. God says, "When I cried, you did not hear Me, therefore when you cry, I will not hear" (Zech 7:13). Ignoring God's warnings is dangerous, for it will shut out God's favor and deliverance in times of need.
•
Divine Order In the Church, the Kingdom of God has to be preached before healing. This is the divine order. This is clearly stated in Mathew 10: 6 - 8, “But goes rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And as ye go, preach, saying, the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal
the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give. In the Church, among believers, preaching has to precede healing, but the order is reversed outside the Church. There, it is healing first and then the preaching of the Kingdom of God. Luke 10:9 asserts, "And heal the sick that are therein and say unto him, the Kingdom of God is come nigh unto you". God's power works only within His pattern.
My Church does not teach Healing A church that does not teach healing is like a school that does not teach math. As important as math is to a school’s curriculum, so important is divine healing to a church’s teaching. However, there are many churches that ignore or oppose the teaching on divine healing. There are various reasons for this. 1. Many churches do not teach divine healing because they do not know the New Testament. They have one foot in the Old and another in the New Testament. A testament is a will, an arrangement, a covenant or an agreement. The New Testament, which actually begins from the book of Acts, is the new covenant or new arrangement of God. It was after Jesus’ death that this will came into effect. The new convent of God is explained in Hebrews 8: 8-13 8 For finding fault with them, He saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah : 9 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord. 10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people : 11 And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man His brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest. 12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more. 13 In that He saith, A new covenant, He hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away. This new covenant is not like the covenant that He made with the Israelites when He lead them out of Egypt. Jesus is our mediator in this better covenant; and in calling this covenant ‘new’ God has made the first old. The Old Covenant has passed away just as a new will always negates or makes obsolete, the old. 2. The wholesome teaching of divine healing is absent in churches that are fellowshipping first with the fellowship, rather than with the Father. 1 John 1: 3 says, “That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ." The members of a fellowship, especially those who teach, must first truly fellowship, by the power and guidance of the Holy Spirit, with the Father and His Son, Jesus. Only then there can be true fellowship and sound doctrine in a church. 3. Another reason why many churches do not teach healing is the fear of failure. The unrelenting doubt is, “What if nothing happens?” The fear that miracles may not happen has kept many from praying for healing. The only way to drive out that fear and to put that devil of doubt to shame is to remember God’s faithfulness. God never changes. He never fails. Along the way, we may meet
failure because we failed. Whenever a person inexperienced in divine healing steps out to pray for the sick, the devils gang up against him and put enormous pressure on him to discourage him at the very outset. But by the grace of God, such must learn to persevere and prevail. 4. Divine healing cannot be understood or taught as long as we try explaining the scriptures in the light of our experiences. What we see and feel and experience is true, and cannot be denied. But it is not the whole truth. When Jesus went to Jairus’ house, Jairus’ little daughter was dead. There were mourners weeping over the dead body. She truly was dead. All life had gone out of her. Yet Jesus boldly declared, “She is not dead!” Jesus, the Word made flesh, Jesus the Resurrection and the Life was standing a few feet from the dead body and so death the lesser or temporal truth, had to give way to the greater truth of Life and Resurrection. The Word of God is the truth – the whole truth. If our experiences don’t match the word of God which says, “….by Whose stripes ye were healed” (1 Peter 2:24), we need to work on our experiences and bring them in line with God’s word, instead of interpreting God’s word from our experiences. 5. Sickness among ministers and godly people has kept many from pressing on towards complete healing.
6. Sadly, healing - God’s provision through Calvary, is seen as a controversial issue. To teach healing would be to stir up the hornet’s nest. As a result, this great and vital aspect of the finished work of Jesus has been ignored, denied or side-stepped. Few will deny that Jesus heals even today, but how many churches and Bible training institutions avoid teaching divine healing as a basic birthright, as the children’s bread. Men and women in such places usually prefer the honor that comes from men than the honor that comes from God. If your church does not teach healing, then please find and join a fellowship of Bible-believing Christians. Why would you want to go to a school that does not teach math anyway?
Why is Bodily Healing Important? •
Because God made the body All of Creation is the work of God’s hands. God made the human body: though satan has caused many perversions even at the conception stage. Romans 8:22 tells us that the whole of creation groans and travails under the weight of sin. Man is the only creation of God that was made in the image and likeness of God. Man, a triune composition, of spirit, soul and body is God’s greatest and most complex creation. That in itself should tell us how great and precious man is, in the sight of God. Colossians 1:16 tells us that all things were made by Him and for Him. God made everything perfect in the beginning. All His works were good. So, God as our Creator has a definite interest in our body. Because of this reason, bodily healing and well being for His glory is absolutely important. The pressures of modern life are great but we must see as God sees and acknowledge Him as the Creator of our body. As the Creator, He has perfect knowledge of any mal function in a single cell and is able to restore it.
•
Our body is the temple of the Holy Ghost If you are born again and have received His Holy Spirit, then your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost. 1 Cor. 6:19 says, “What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?” When Jesus walked this earth, He considered His own body to be a temple (John 2:21). Our body is the housing for our spirit which is also the first place of worship (John 4:24). Is this not an amazing truth? Your body is the first temple of God’s Spirit! Can it be defiled or deformed? Would not God be interested in His temple? 2 Cor. 13:5 says, “... Jesus Christ is in you….” Philemon 6 says that every good thing is in us! Yes, the very kingdom of God has been put within us! 1 Cor. 6:13 says that the body is for the Lord and the Lord is for the body! 1 Cor. 6:15 says , “Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ?”. This shows our amazing connection with Christ! Oh, may your eyes be opened to see the glories of Christ! Col. 2:17 says that our body is of Christ! Oh, the love and grace of God!
1 Cor. 6:20 says that because we (including our body) has been bought with a price, we are to glorify God in our body and spirit which are God’s. Ephesians 5:23 says that Christ is the Saviour of the body! Let it be settled forever in your mind, that God is definitely and particularly interested in your physical body! 1 Thess. 5:23 says, “And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” •
God needs human bodies to fulfill his plans Though angels dwell in the literal presence of God, they are not made in the image and likeness of God. Man is the instrument of God in His divine plan for all ages. In the world of matter, God needs a physical body to carry out His plans. More than all the sacrifices and burnt offerings, and tithes, God wants our body to be presented to Him as a sacrificial living instrument for Him to use. He sent His Son to be born as one of us to be the Savior of the world. He did not send a special angel. Flesh and blood are vital in His plan of redemption
•
The devil can operate fully only through a human body Evil spirits, though they move in the air, can perform their full evil designs only through a human body. If they cannot find a human body they will try to inhabit any living thing to give expression to their vile nature. We have a clear indication of this in the incident found in Luke 8: 31-33. When Jesus commands the evil spirits in the man to come out, they beg Jesus not to send them away into the deep or abyss: but they beg him to at least allow them to get into a herd of nearby pigs. When Jesus gives them permission, the herd of pigs take off violently and plunge themselves into a lake and choke themselves! Evil spirits fight for a foothold in the bodies of people and much more in the children of God. The full power and force of evil personified in a body will be seen when the antiChrist is revealed shortly. The devil fought even for the dead body of Moses in Jude 9 we read how satan tries to get hold of the dead body of Moses. What will he do for a living body! There is a constant battle going on between good and evil, between God and satan and it involves the Triune Man. Our body being important to God, being His temple, is naturally a target for the devil. He will try every trick to lodge himself in our body: and sadly there are many within the body of Christ who unwittingly aid him in this evil task.
•
A sick body cannot be as effective as a healthy body Many Christians have done great things for God from the bed of illness. But Christians can bring greater glory and do greater things if the body is well. We don’t need any revelation or great theological understanding to grasp this fact! Consider this – sin does not glorify God, salvation does. By the same token, sickness does not glorify God - Healing does. Follow the healing ministry of Jesus and the apostles and see how God is glorified through healings.
There is no substitute for the Commission - “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature”. Now we have many methods by which this is being fulfilled. But yet, there is no substitute for physically going. Jesus could have used other methods of reaching out to people, but He sent His disciples and He Himself went about doing good and healing all that were oppressed of the devil. It is very difficult to do this with a sick body. Now, may the God of all grace minister to your body with His understanding and wisdom.
Death Physical death is the process of the falling away of the physical body to the dust. There is a lot of misunderstanding about death among Christians today. As we search God’s Word for the scripture to explain scripture, to lay to rest these misconceptions, remember one thing – Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life (John 14: 6). Life is greater than death, the Savior is greater than sin, Heaven is greater than hell, and the Healer is greater than the disease. Remember always that in the ultimate analysis and plans of God, physical death is a sure ENEMY (1 Corinthians 15:26). The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. Let us look at some of the misconceptions:
Appointed time to die Many people misunderstand the commonly used phrase 'appointed time to die' because of a wrong reading of Heb. 9: 27. There is no such thing as an appointed time to die, only that death or the falling away of this present body is appointed to all. Hebrews 9:27 …. it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment : This verse says that it is appointed unto men once to die and does not talk about an appointed time to die. There is a lot of difference between the two. Some believe that Paul propounded an appointed time for death because of II Timothy 4:6 which says, "For I am now ready to be offered and the time of my departure is at hand." Paul always longed to be in the literal presence of the Lord. Phil.1: 23, 24 "For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart and to be with Christ; which is far better: Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you." Paul had a strong desire to depart from this world to be with the Lord and God grants the desires of His children. Ps.37: 4 "Delight thyself in the Lord and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart". To such, I believe God will show the time of their departure. Jesus knew the exact time of His death and He dismissed His Spirit on the Cross John 13:1 - Now before the feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end.
John 19:30 records "When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, He said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost." In my early Christian walk, I heard remarkable testimonies of how some elderly saints in their eighties or nineties would leave this world. They would lie on their bed, gather all their loved ones around them wish each one good bye and singing the praises of Jesus, close their eyes and depart. Hallelujah!
 To die is gain Many of God's saints confront deathly situations almost every day (1 Cor 15:31). Note here that this entire chapter is talking about physical death) Such would definitely have a great desire to be in the literal presence of their Master and to obtain that eternal rest from their labours. Philippians 1:21 - 24 "For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not. For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better: Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you" Many of God's generals often long to depart but they remain in this world only for the sake of the Lord's work. Understand that it is more difficult to live for Christ than to die for Christ. Physical death in a sense is an escape and a release from all the battles of this world but never forget that in the Ultimate Analysis, physical death is an adversary, the Last Enemy of Man (1 Cor 15:26).
 The Lord hath given and the Lord hath taken We hear this verse quoted in most funeral services. It is taken from Job 1:21 "Naked came I out of my mothers' womb and naked shall I return thither: The Lord gave and the Lord hath taken away:" Job's statement is recorded faithfully but it is not accurate. The Bible faithfully has recorded all the actions and important conversations verbatim. At the end of Job's account we see him repenting. Job 42:1-6 also records Jobs' confession. Job 42:3 - "Who is he that hideth counsel without knowledge? Therefore have I uttered that I understood not: things too wonderful for me, which I knew not."
 Death of the saints is precious to God "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints" - Ps.116:15 Many derive comfort from this verse and they should not be robbed of whatever comforts them at the time of a physical death.
God receives the saints who depart from this world but He does not kill them. But if somebody thinks that God has taken their loved one or is comforted from such a thought, wisely avoid trying to correct them at that time. Let them be comforted, teach them later in love. Earlier we saw that some who love the Lord very dearly long to be in His literal presence. We love Him, because He first loved us. His love and longing for us is greater than our love for Him. The Lord'' greatest desire for us is that we be with Him for all eternity. Jesus said in John 14:3 "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also." It is according to our faith and desire which God honors in critical conditions. But please keep remembering that in the Ultimate Analysis, Death is the Last Enemy.
Three Score Years and Ten Psalm 90:10 - "The days of our years are three score years and ten: and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labor and sorrow: for it is soon cut off and we fly away." Before the flood, men lived for over 900 years (Methuselah, Noah's grandfather lived for 969 years), After the flood the average life span was 120 years. Jacob lived 130 years. Gen. 47:9 "And Jacob said unto Pharaoh, The days of the years of my pilgrimage are an hundred and thirty years: Few and evil have the days of the years of my life been and have not attained unto the days of the years of my life of my fathers in the days of their pilgrimage." As sin increased the life span decreased even further, so that in the days of Moses who wrote this psalm the length of life was 70 - 80 years. But Jesus reversed all this. In Jesus, where sin abounds, grace will abound much more (Rom 5:20). Consider this powerful Scripture: 2 Timothy 1:10 “…. our Savior Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:" Learn to see everything through the broken Body and Calvary. It is the power of God to them that will believe. "For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness: But unto us which are saved it is the power of God." - I Cor 1:18. All this is according to your faith. Mathew 9:29 - "According to your faith be it unto you". So take time to build your faith. Now let us look at a few other scriptures, which give more light on God's will concerning death and long life. •
Ps 79:11 - "……preserve thou those that are appointed to die"
•
Ps 102:19, 20 - "………the Lord looks down from heaven to loose those that are appointed to die"
•
Ps 91:16 - "With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation".( Long life is till a person is satisfied with life)
•
Prov 3:1, 2 - "My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments: For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee."
•
Eph 6: 2, 3 - "Honour thy father and thy mother; which is the first commandment with promise; That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth."
•
Rom 5:17 - "…..by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one Christ Jesus."
•
2 Tim 1:10 - "….our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel."
•
Heb 2:14 - "………through death He destroyed him that had the power of death, that is the devil."
•
Rev 1:18 - "……….I am He that liveth, and was dead and, behold, I am alive for ever more, Amen; and have the keys of death and hell."
•
1 Cor. 15: 25, 26 - "…… For He must reign till he hath put all enemies under his feet; The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death."
Remember that there is no record of Jesus attending a funeral service. When He once came across a funeral party, He raised the dead person and it wasn't a funeral anymore. He once said, "Let the dead bury their dead . . ." - Math.8: 22 Does all this mean we are not going to die? Is this the question on your mind? This present body must change because we cannot go to heaven with this body. I Cor 15:50 says, ". . . flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God." Jesus changes our body giving us a new body. Phil.3: 20, 21 - "For our conversation is in heaven from where also we look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ: who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto His glorious body, according to the working whereby He is able even to subdue all things unto himself:" Our new body will be like the resurrected body of Jesus. After His resurrection Jesus could • • •
Be recognized Be touched and felt Eat food
Therefore the new body is very much like the present body, only perfect. This present body can therefore be changed by •
The power of the indwelling Spirit (Rom 8:11) "But if the Spirit of Him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, He that raised Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by His Spirit that dwelleth in you"
•
The dead being raised as a foretaste of eternal life for spirit, soul and body. Jesus demonstrated this foretaste of victory over physical death and also by commissioning His disciples to do the same Math 10:8 "Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils; freely ye have received freely give."
•
Faith: Heb 11:5 "By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death."
•
Rapture of the saints : 1 Thes 4:16, 17 " ....and the dead in Christ shall rise first; Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air……"
Aging - a Divine Perspective We know that God heals all diseases and sickness. What about the natural process of aging and weakening of the body due to old age? Today even medical science is beginning to explore the secrets of aging in the hope of reversing it. Older saints, take courage and know the power of God. Who told you that one should retire and become a pensioner at 55 or 60? Was it not the government or employers who set the pattern? Often it is religious tradition and the unnatural fear of being heretical robs us of our glorious inheritance from the glorious gospel. Let us talk about the resurrection power of our Lord who now lives and reigns over His Church with the power of an endless life! Let’s examine the words of the Ancient of Days for some Divine insights! But these things are not going to drop down freely into your life for how much of our thinking and living has been shaped by a godless world. It will take a great deal of effort to see the manifestation of what is provided. It will require meditation and a closer daily walk with the Savior. It will be according to your spiritual desire, discipline, delights and diligent seeking after the things pertaining to eternal life.
•
Psalm 103 : 3 – 5 “Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.” When the eagle gets old and bald, it goes up to a high mountain and remains there for some time and goes through the process of moulting. The old feathers fall of, the old beak, now brittle falls away, the filmy growth over the eyes fall away. Slowly it begins to grow new feathers and beak and with clear eyes soars to the high heavens! God not only forgives all our sins and heals all diseases but also renews our youth like the eagles. Youth can be renewed only to those who are no longer young. So however weak and aged we may be, remember He renews our youth.
Job 33 : 23 – 25 “If there be a messenger with him, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to shew unto man his uprightness: Then he is gracious unto him, and saith, Deliver him from going down to the pit: I have found a ransom. His flesh shall be fresher than a child's: he shall return to the days of his youth.”
Praise God ! A ransom has been found. Jesus himself became our ransom at Calvary and because of that our flesh can become fresher than a child’s and we may return to the days of our youth. This is God’s provision, through Calvary, to reverse the process of aging in those who believe. Remember Naaman a captain in the Syrian army who had leprosy? Dipping in the river Jordan healed him. His leprosy left immediately and his skin became as a child's skin! (2 Kings 5:14) Oh! The amazing power of God even for a man who was not under the Covenant as Israel was! If there is anyone reading this, suffering from any kind of skin disease, let us offer you a tried and proven remedy: Job 33: 23 – 25 spoken out aloud! Believe it and shout out the praise of the Redeemer!
•
Rom. 2:7 “To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life.” God expects us to seek immortality and to such He gives eternal life. Think of the Old Testament characters who had lived for over 900 years! But as sin increased on the earth, the life span began to drop. But as the sin destroyer has come, let us glorify redemption by doing our best to reverse the process of aging with the power of the Word and the Holy Spirit. Let thoughts of eternity and long life be in your imagination and in your dreams!
•
II Tim. 1 : 10 “But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel” The Savior whom we accepted, abolished death for us and the gospel we believed proclaims life and immortality to us. Aging and frailty need not have place in us who believe in this Jesus and His good news. Let us be transformed by renewing our minds with the Word of God. Don’t let the world condition you!
•
Rom. 8:11 “But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you”. The Holy Spirit who lives in us is the power that raised up Jesus from the dead. When we were filled with the Holy Spirit, He came inside us to dwell there forever. This same Spirit quickens (or gives life to) us forever. Weakness due to old age and death are no longer natural, rather, they are alien to us. The last enemy that will be put down under our feet is death! (1 Cor 15:26).
•
Psalm 32:3
“When I kept silence, my bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long.” Praise God in all circumstances. Keeping silence in the face of evil affects us physically, so let’s use our mouths to thank and praise God continually (1 Thes 5: 16-18). We have more than two or three witnessing verses to establish this beautiful truth of long life !
Sickness among Heroes in the Old Testament We will take three notable cases of sickness from among the Old Testament heroes. Remember that we must look at every Old Testament incidence through the eyes of the New Testament and its greater provisions.
•
King Asa 2 Chronicles 14:2 says, “And Asa did that which was good and right in the eyes of the LORD his God.” But he could not enforce the ways of God fully in His kingdom. 1 Kings 22:43 reveals that, ”...Nevertheless the high places were not taken away; for the people offered and burnt incense yet in the high places.” He also did not remove the sodomites from the land.(1Kings 22:46) As we follow the history of King Asa, we see how he relied on the Lord and then later began to rely on the King of Syria. When the prophet Hanani warns him, Asa throws him in prison and begins to oppress the people. (Read 2 Chronicles 16) In the later years of his reign, King Asa is diseased in his foot with a great disease. Yet, in his backslidden condition, he did not seek the Lord who had given him mighty deliverances in battle. Instead, he began to seek out the doctors to heal his foot. 2 Chronicles 16: 12 says, “And Asa in the thirty and ninth year of his reign was diseased in his feet, until his disease was exceeding great: yet in his disease he sought not to the LORD, but to the physicians.” Two years later, he dies God is merciful even to the backslider but Asa was one who hardened his heart while backsliding and had no desire to seek the Lord for his healing.
•
King Hezekiah In 2 Kings Chapter 20 we read of King Hezekiah’s last days. His sickness is unto death. But when he cries out to God, he is granted another 15 years. Isaiah the prophet tells him to put a lump of figs on the deadly boil, and Hezekiah is healed. Here, we must remember that God is the Healer and not the figs. Many use this example to quickly
depend on external methods. Thank God for every merciful external help but remember that the Name of our God is Jehovah Rapha, God the Healer. Many petitions that God grants are based on His foreknowledge. Although, he is delivered from a deadly disease, he displeases God by allowing the king of Babylon, to come into his palace and shows him all his possession and his kingdom. Isaiah the prophet admonishes him and shows him the judgment of God upon his sons and their future. From Hezekiah’s response to this in v. 19, we see his selfishness “Is it not good, if peace and truth be in my days?”
•
Elisha Some are puzzled by the sickness of this great prophet of God. (Please go through the entire School to get a greater understanding) 2 Kings 13:14 says, “Now Elisha was fallen sick of his sickness whereof he died.” How could this great prophet of God be sick? 2 Kings 13:21 tells us of a great miracle. “And it came to pass, as they were burying a man, that, behold, they spied a band of men; and they cast the man into the sepulchre of Elisha: and when the man was let down, and touched the bones of Elisha, he revived, and stood up on his feet.” How could a man whose bones were used to resurrect a dead man, himself die of sickness? We must remember some facts in this case. This sovereign act of God has not been recorded before or even in the New Testament. Therefore, it must be considered as an exceptional, sovereign act of God recorded for our benefit. This sovereign act only shows us that if the bones of a man under the Old Covenant could be used in such a powerful way, how much more could God do through the living bodies of His New Testament saints who are even commissioned to do the works of Jesus and greater than Jesus’ works too? At the time of his death, Elisha had been a prophet for 66 years, 6 years longer than the time David or Solomon lived. He was a full-grown young man when called to the prophetic office, so he must have been at least 80-90 years at the time of his death. Remember though that Elisha did not have the blood of Jesus. Victory over death and the grave, which are the last enemies of man, could never be accomplished under the Old Covenant (please read Hebrews 11: 39, 40). Wholeness in spirit, soul and body is available only through Christ who is the fullness of Him that filleth all in all. When it comes to bodily healing, there is absolutely no comparison with the New Testament saints. In the baptizing fires of Christ, we see a dissolving of sin, sickness and yea, even death! Blessed be Jesus who is and who was and who is to come – the Almighty!
Sickness among Ministers in the New Testament Many, who deny divine healing to be part of the Atonement, have pointed out sickness among the New Testament ministers as reason for their skepticism. As we look closer at the cases of sickness among the early saints, my prayer is that God who gives a sound mind dispel all doubt and unbelief. •
Epaphroditus Phil. 2: 25-27 “Yet I supposed it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, and companion in labour, and fellowsoldier, but your messenger, and he that ministered to my wants. For he longed after you all, and was full of heaviness, because that ye had heard that he had been sick. For indeed he was sick nigh unto death: but God had mercy on him; and not on him only, but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow.” Epaphroditus’ sickness was caused by overwork. Verse 30 says, “Because for the work of Christ he was nigh unto death, not regarding his life, to supply your lack of service toward me”. Helping Paul in the ministry, Epaphroditus had been doing the work of many people single-handedly, not caring for his own health. As a result, he was ill and that too for a short period. God in His mercy, restored his health.
•
Timothy I Tim. 5: 23 “Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach's sake and thine often infirmities.” Paul was like a father to young Timothy. Paul’s letters to Timothy are full of personal advice to him and this verse is Paul’s health advice to Timothy. Would we not tell many today to drink less of coffee or soft drinks? Does not the excess of these beverages and drinks cause health disorders? Would we not exhort others to drink fresh fruit juices and milk instead of fizzy drinks? I know several people who simply do not drink more than a glass of water a day but continue to work in humid conditions. Over a period of time this would cause conditions of malnutrition and stomach disorders. A very common but unknown problem today is that people get dehydrated without their knowledge! Very soon they have frequent stomach disorders.
Timothy was a young man with huge responsibilities. His faith and love for God made him an ideal co-runner with Paul in church work. Many who have the zeal but not the stamina for arduous work can end up with stomach disorders that lead to infirmity. Thus, Paul was simply giving a natural health tip to help him overcome malnutrition and infirmities. •
Trophimus II Timothy 4: 20 “Erastus abode at Corinth: but Trophimus have I left at Miletum sick.” Trophimus may have been ill and unfit for the journey, when Paul set out on his journey,. But this does not mean he remained sick. Sickness may come, but it need not overcome. Is it possible for Paul to have withheld divine knowledge which would have helped Trophimus. Is it not possible for Trophimus to have recovered? Why do we choose to think that Trophimus remained sick? In all this, we need to remember that these early saints did not have the fully compiled written New Testament as we do today. God’s provision of healing and health through Calvary is fully revealed in the New Testament or the New Covenant. The saints of the NT days did not have the written word of God with which we are blessed.
Why are people with Strong Faith and Godly Lives Sick ? This question has troubled many people who sincerely seek the truth about divine healing. It is a pertinent question that has to be answered by scripture, not just by our experiences and feelings. •
We first need to understand what faith is. Faith is not a feeling or an attitude. Faith is a divine force with which we are supposed to fight the battles of life. I Tim 6:12 says, “Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.” Faith is based on the word of God. Rom. 10: 17 says, “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God”. The word of God is so important to us for it is our Bread (life) - “Man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” (Mat. 4:4) Light - “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path” (Ps. 119 : 105) Sword - “... and the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God” (Eph. 6:17)
The fight of faith is a battle for this precious word of God. The devil knows how vital God’s word is to us and fights desperately to snatch it away from us. Not all are perfected in this spiritual warfare to the extent of warding off sickness and disease. •
The ministers of God are in the front-line in spiritual warfare and are more open to the attacks of the enemy. If those who watch for your soul are stricken, then you are easy prey. Mark 14 : 27 - “If the Shepherd is smitten, the sheep are scattered” The devil usually concentrates much of his forces against the shepherd. If he can kill one shepherd, then he can attack a hundred or more sheep. The ministers of God are your shield against the foe. But they are constantly in the thick of the battle. If they are ill because of constant battles, then do not be quick to find fault with them but rather pray for them and their health.
•
Many of the deaths among God’s servants are because they preferred to go home. After long years of dedicated service to the Lord, they simply don’t resist sickness when it comes on them, for they would rather go home to be with their dear Lord. Paul, who longed to depart and be with Christ is an example. In Phil. 1: 23, 24 he says, “For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart and to be with Christ; which is far better: Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you.” God honors the desires of His children who delight in Him. Such, in times of weakness, release their spirit or in other words give up their desire to live; and the body without the spirit is dead. Unfortunately, many think that the man of God has died of an illness.
•
Often godly people of strong faith are sick because of the weak faith of others. In the church, “we are members one of another” (Rom. 12 : 5 & Eph. 4 : 25). Nobody is independent in the body of Christ. We are all interdependent. All our actions affect at least two other people in the body of Christ. Our actions effect the person above us in the Lord with whom we are connected to spiritually and the person who is connected to us. As a result of this strong interdependence, people of strong faith may be sick when the ones with whom they are connected to become weak in the faith. It is like a chain reaction. One weak link can cause a malfunction in the adjoining links. Sometimes we have to endure all things for the sake of the elect instead of being quick to snap of that weak link. Such endurance is a part of our suffering for Christ.
•
Rebellion in the church is a major cause for sickness in the body of Christ. Rebellion and stubbornness are often not recognized for what they are. Rebellion is as witchcraft in the sight of God. I Sam. 15: 23 - “For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry.” How many of God’s people refuse to change their ways the first time they hear a sermon that convicts them? How many of God’s children choose to learn lessons the hard way? All this has a physical effect on the sincere godly elders and leaders. Rebellion inside the church bring witchcraft against the body of Christ. This subtle evil is causing sickness among truly godly pastors and people. Dealing with rebels is a difficult task for a tender hearted and long-suffering pastor. Stubbornness and a refusal to change ways is like having idolatry in the church. While pastors wrestle slowly and carefully with this deathly attack, they also have to consider that other sheep are not hurt. In this process, often, the man of God becomes weak in body and is prey to diseases.
•
All godly people are not necessarily well developed or taught in the area of divine healing. Godly people may be well developed in many aspects of Christian life but they may not have developed their knowledge and faith in the area of bodily healing. True saints of God may be sick, simply because they are not equipped for it. Some may be perfect in their knowledge of the Old Testament Characters or the New Birth but have scant experiential knowledge of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Conversely, some who are flowing in the manifestation of the gifts of the Holy Spirit may have little knowledge about Bible archaeology or chronology or of apocalyptic events.
•
Sometimes godly hope may be mistaken for faith. But hope is distinct from faith. Hope says, “God will heal me”, while faith says, “God has healed me”. Healing is not only God’s promise, but His provision for us. Healing became ours when Jesus’ body was torn open by the whipping and while nailed on the cross. It is faith which lays hold of this provision to make it one's own. True, experiential faith sees things that are not, as though they were.
I Cor. 13: 13 - “And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three” Hope and faith should go together to manifest the present and abiding love of the Father. Job was a godly man who knew a lot about God. Job had heard about God, but later his spiritual eyes were opened and he saw God. Job 42: 5 - “I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee” It is faith that sees the things that are not apparent but are more real than the things that are tangible. In concluding this chapter, we would be well advised to be very cautious about what we say regarding godly people who are sick. There can be more than one reason for their illness and we should continue to consider them as champions of God.
Premature Death Health, long life and immortality are God’s provisions for his children. Yet we see so many pass away prematurely. What is the reason for these lives ending too soon, if God wills long life for us? •
Not knowing that long life is the will of God Many die an early death, simply because they did not know that long life is God’s purpose for them. If we don’t understand God’s will and provision for us, the enemy will cheat us of o of what is rightfully ours. In Hosea 4:6, God says, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.” Know therefore, that long life is God’s will for you as revealed in the following verses. Psalm 91:16 - “With long life will I satisfy him and shew him my salvation.” Proverbs 3: 1, 2 - “My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments: For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.” Ephesians 6 : 2, 3 - “Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise) That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.”
•
Believing that the appointed time to die has come There is a lot of misunderstanding about “an appointed time to die” because of a casual and wrong reading of Heb 9:27 and Eccl 3:2. In Hebrews, we read that it is appointed unto men once to die. It does not say that there is an appointed time to die. These unbiblical beliefs have robbed many of life. From the verses in Psalms, Proverbs and Ephesians, we see that we cannot say that there is an appointed time to die. However, if one derives comfort from the thought that the passing away of a loved one is because the appointed time has come, we suggest teaching them these truths after they are comforted and in a frame of mind to learn
•
Some men hold highly active, Christ ordained offices in the Church, like the apostle Paul. Such ministers often undergo experiences, which the average Christian will never face. Their love and living for the Lord is so intense that they literally want to be with Him. Such people do have a foreknowledge of their departure from this world. Paul said of his death in, 2 Timothy 4:6 “For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of
my departure is at hand.” King David who walked so closely with God, except in the matter of Uriah the Hittite, spoke of his departure in 1 Kings 2: 1,2. Until and unless a person is walking in such a dimension, he or she need not be robbed of a full life span. Remember that in the ultimate analysis, physical death is the last enemy of man. •
Not discerning the Body of Christ Not rightly or fully discerning both the physical and spiritual body of Christ is a common cause for premature death. The physical body of Jesus was broken for our sickness and disease. Isaiah 53:5 says, “with His stripes we are healed.” In 1 Peter 2:24, the Holy Spirit restates Isaiah’s prophecy in the past perfect tense, “…..by whose stripes ye were healed” Healing is part of the great salvation that Jesus won for us at cruel Calvary. To deny this is to mock the finished work of Jesus.
•
Partaking of the communion in an unworthy manner caused premature deaths even in the early Church. Damnation is the lot of those who eat of the bread and drink of the cup without discerning the Lord’s holy Body that was broken for us (I Cor 11: 29, 30).. The Church is Jesus’ spiritual body today. There is one body and one Church. Every believer is a part or a member of this spiritual body. Jesus is the Head of the Church. While we cannot and should not try to analyze the Church in its entirety, (only the Head understands everything about the Body) we must discern the Lord’s spiritual body and His work on earth today. It is a terrible malady to talk ill of the Church, which is the Body of Christ today. Only those who have the God given authority to correct church conditions have the right to talk about church conditions. Stop meddling with matters over which Christ has not given you permission or authority. Control your thinking and talking about the Church. Be very careful of what you say about the Bride of Christ ! Many have tried to understand the Church. Friend, you cannot understand everything about the Church, for you are not the head of the Church and only the Head understands all things. Just find your place and fulfill your function in His body, the Church.
•
Dishonoring parents God commands us to honor our parents. Exodus 20:12 says, “Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.” Ephesians. 6:2 “Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise ;) That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.” This is a commandment with a promise (the first verse). The reward for keeping this command is long life. However, if the commandment is broken, the promise is not received, leading to early death.
•
Losing Hope Hebrews 11:1 says that “Faith is the substance of things hoped for” While it is faith that finally makes the provisions of God (for healing) a present, visible reality in the life of a
believer, hope is the blueprint or vision on which faith is built. Faith, hope and love work together (1 Cor. 13:13). They are inseparable divine forces. In the face of prolonged distress, some people lose divine or godly hope or because of circumstances lose their vision of Jesus’ healing ministry. Losing sight of the healing ministry of Jesus is actually losing divine hope. By losing divine hope, they also lose divine faith – succumbing to their illness. It is important not only to build our faith but we must also build our hope by focussing our imaginations, thoughts, dreams and aspirations around the life of our Lord. Proverbs 29:18 says, “Where there is no vision, the people perish” Why is our hope based on doctors reports and circumstances? Why don’t we build our hope looking at some of the Old Testament characters ? Consider Methusaleh who lived for 969 years! (Genesis 5:27). Noah lived for 950 years! (Genesis 9:29). Think of Moses who lived for 120 years without his vision dimming or without any feebleness! (Deuteronomy 34:7) As a New Testament Christian, why don’t you build your hope on Him who has the power of an endless life? (Hebrews 7:16). Increase your hope by and through the glorious gospel of Christ who has abolished death and has revealed the secrets of life and immortality! (2 Timothy 1:10). Blessed be the Lord our God ! •
Covetousness Covetousness is an inordinate desire or craving for vain things. While God delights in honoring the desires of His children, even in material things, we must make sure desire does not become an ungodly craving. If we keep ourselves from covetousness, the Bible promises us long life. Proverbs 28:16 says, “….. he that hateth covetousness shall prolong his days.” The opposite of this is also true – He that is covetous will shorten his days! Covetousness leads to premature deaths. Remember that godliness with contentment is great gain! (1 Timothy 6:6) Give God all your desires and He will purify you of all greed, vanity and covetousness, leaving only the godly desires. Then God will grant the desires of your heart (Ps. 37:4)
•
Despising God’s Word Man is man and God is God. Man is the creation of God. God’s words are to be honored and obeyed by mankind. Premature deaths can occur when God’s word is despised. Man, especially the born again man, needs the Word of God to live. Disobeying God’s word is despising His Word. His sheep know His voice (or his Word), and knowingly disobeying God’s Word is an open and brazen defiance of His Word and will. Proverbs 13:13 says, “Whoso despiseth the word shall be destroyed: but he that feareth the commandment shall be rewarded.” Isaiah 5:24 says, “Therefore as the fire devoureth the stubble, and the flame consumeth the chaff, so their root shall be as rottenness, and their blossom shall go up as dust: because they have cast away the law of the Lord of hosts, and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel.”
Therefore, take time to know His Word and desire to fulfill it.
Does God teach through Sickness? There is a mixed up notion even among devout Christians that God teaches His children through sickness. Many believe that God sends sickness and suffering in order to educate His children. Such notions are totally inconsistent with the Father’s love and compassion as revealed in the life, ministry and atoning work of Jesus. Learning from sickness is our way of learning. It is true that all who live for Jesus will be called to suffer for the sake of Christ, but sickness is not part of this suffering. Also remember that satan, the messenger of sickness, is NOT THE TEACHER OF THE CHURCH. Christ is our example in suffering and we are called to suffer like Christ, obediently, patiently and humbly. For righteousness sake (1 Peter 3:14) For the Faith (1 Peter 4: 12-16) In the face of injustice, being accused falsely (Matt 5:11) For doing good. (1 Peter 3:17) For rejection. (Luke 6:22) But Christ was also our substitute for suffering at Calvary for Sin (Isa 53:4, 2 Cor 5:21) Sickness (Isa 53:5, Matthew 8:17) Curses (Gal 3:13) Poverty (2 Cor 8:9) Sorrow (Isa 53:4, Isa 61:3) Death (John 3:16, Isa 51:6, 2 Timothy 1:10) In these, He took our place so that we may not suffer. Let us not redo or improve on Jesus’ finished work. May God give us grace that we may see the Redeemer – as our Substitute and as our Example. God does not use sickness and suffering to teach His people. It is we who learn through these methods whenever we are out of line with His will. He teaches us through His Word The Holy Spirit His Ministers The Life of His Son
•
His Word
God has gone to great lengths to give us His written Word through which we primarily learn. Many saints have laid down their lives that we may have the Bible in our hands today. Let us take care to revere His Word and obey its instructions. These verses speak for themselves and need no explanation. Psalm 119: 9 - "Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word." Oh, if you are young and sick, go for a spiritual cleansing. Pay more attention and be an attender of and an attender to God’s Word. Psalm 119:11 - "Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee." Oh sick one! How much of God’s word have you memorized? Psalm 119:105 - "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path." 2 Tim. 3:16 - "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness." Oh sick one! Maybe what you need is more doctrine, more reproof, more correction and more instruction in righteousness. John 15:3 - "Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you." If sickness and disease has helped in cleansing you, you have used an inferior but terribly expensive and uncomfortable cleansing agent! John 17:17 - "Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. Sickness and disease are not the methods that God has chosen to sanctify us. That is our method! Acts 20:32 - "And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified." His gracious Words build us up. Eph. 5:26 - "That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word." Again, we are cleansed and sanctified with the washing or renewing of our minds by the Word of God. 1 Peter 2:2 - "As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word that ye may grow thereby." God wants us to grow by partaking of His Word. Jer. 23:29 - "Is not my word like as a fire? saith the LORD; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?" God’s Word is not always sweet or pleasant. Sometimes it can burn us like a fire. At other times, it can be like a hammer on our heads! Amen! God chastises whom He loves and those who are sensitive to His Word will find it convicting, pricking and virtually
hammering them and making them very uncomfortable! But bless God, it is better to be hammered by the Word of God than by the devil and his cohorts!
•
The Holy Spirit The Holy Spirit is our abiding Comforter, Counselor and Teacher In John 14: 26, Jesus says, “The Holy Ghost will teach you all things”. Can we not believe this and lean on the abiding presence of the Holy Ghost within to lead us into all truth? The anointing within is sufficient to teach you all things, but one must learn how to rely on and draw on this anointing. Many are unable to learn from the presence of the Holy Spirit within, simply because other factors and not the Holy Spirit has control of their lives. Many reject the precious manifestations and the gifts of the Holy Spirit and thereby quench and grieve the Holy Spirit the very author of the Scriptures. Many are unable to learn from the Word of God because their words are not under the control of the Holy Spirit. The tongue, which is the steering wheel of life, has never been handed over to the Holy Spirit and so they always have to depend on someone else to interpret their own Father’s words. How tragic it is to be a child of God and always receive instructions from other members of the family or even some who may be just hirelings! Remember again, that sickness, diseases and death are not the teacher of the Church. Stop discerning the will of God through these messengers of satan. Renew your thinking today and make up your mind to be fully yielded to the Holy Spirit, and you as the sheep of God’s pasture will hear the voice of the good Shepherd and Bishop of your soul.
•
Ministers of God God uses His servants to instruct and edify His people. This is the way He primarily gave instructions to His people even in the Old Testament. Messengers, prophets and righteous men bore the oracles of God. In the New Testament church, the Lord Jesus Christ has set ministers in the church. (Please read Eph 4: 11-16 phrase by phrase). They have a specific task to accomplish. They can do it only if the members understand and co-operate. The basic purpose of the 5 prime ministers in the Church are
• • •
For the perfecting of the saints, For equipping the saints for the work of the ministry, For the edification of the Body of Christ God sends His word of correction and instruction through His servants, even to the wayward. Jeremiah 35:15 - "I have sent also unto you all my servants the prophets, rising up early and sending them, saying, Return ye now every man from his evil way, and amend your doings, and go not after other gods to serve them, and ye shall dwell in the land which I have given to you and to your fathers: but ye have not inclined your ear, nor hearkened unto me."
•
Life of His Son, Jesus The best example for our learning is the Life of our Lord Jesus Christ. God intends that we learn by looking at Him. Hebrews 1:1, 2 says, “God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son…..” What would God do in a certain situation? Look for an answer in the life of Jesus which is filled with the actions and reactions of the Heavenly Father. Jesus said that those who had seen Him had seen the Father. He taught or said nothing that was out of line with the Father. He was the express image of the Father. He was God manifest in flesh (1 Timothy 3:16). What would Jesus do when He looks on the sick? The answer is not difficult to find. He is filled with compassion (Matthew 14:14), vengeance (Isaiah 35: 4-6) and a compulsion to heal the sick (Luke 4: 18). If doubts still remain, ask this ultimate question, “WHAT WOULD JESUS DO?” We encourage the reading of the gospels as many times as possible to feel the heartbeat of Jesus. No born again Christian should be reading books and listening to tapes without reading the Gospels. May our eyes be opened to see that sickness, diseases, curses and evils are not God’s ways of teaching His own; neither is satan the teacher of the Church. If we learn anything through these methods, it is our way. Even then, our gracious God makes all things work together for good to those who love Him
Causes for Sickness I have seen God heal many. But my eyes have also been on those who have not received healings, those who have been prayed for by the best ministries in the world and still have not received their healing. It is the duty of the minister to bring healing to God’s people (Ezekiel 34:4). God is furious with sickness. When the Messiah came, He came with a vengeance on sickness and disease (see Isaiah 35). If you desire God to heal you In this chapter, you will come across many valuable insights that can set you free. The verses may be familiar to you, but you may never have thought of them in the context of healing. For years I have sought the Lord for those who have not been healed. It is impossible for sickness to exist in the Presence of Jesus. If it does, there has to be a cause - for the curse does not come without a cause (Prov. 26:2). God’s people perish for lack of knowledge and we are exhorted to seek for understanding. Many find temporary healing in a spiritual atmosphere but find that they are attacked again very soon. A person with a deadly disease does not go to a general physician. He goes to a specialist. Jesus Christ the Great Physician, The Word of God, will discern between the soul and the spirit, the bone and the marrow (where the blood cells are created). As you receive the word of God, there will be healing and it will be complete and perfect. About 40 causes for sicknesses are mentioned. Some may seem to be repetitive or overlapping. But it has been done intentionally. Let us consider the causes one by one.
•
State of Sin Before satan made his appearance in the garden of Eden in Gen.3:1, man was perfect and sinless. Sickness and disease were unknown to him. His body was made for God and not for sickness and disease. But the deliberate turning away from God by Adam and Eve brought a state of separation from God. Sin is nothing but disobedience. Everything else is a consequence that produces acts of sin. How many sick people have said that they have not done any sinful acts that could have caused their sickness. But are they walking in obedience? How many people kick against even the fundamental teachings of Christ mentioned in
Hebrews 6:1,2 ! Disobedience automatically triggers a state in which the DEADLIEST DISEASE – Sin can produce varying by-products. In Deuteronomy Chapter 28 we see the blessings of obedience. From verse 15 onwards, we see that sickness is a curse or a natural consequence, judgement or justice for disobeying God. In Isaiah 59: 1,2, God says, “Behold, the LORD’S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear”. We see the connection between sin and a major debilitating illness in John 5:14. Jesus, after healing the man at the pool of Bethesda tells him, "Sin no more lest a worse thing come upon thee." The connection between sin and paralyzing diseases is also seen in the statements of Jesus in Mark 2: 9-11 when He heals the paralytic
•
Devil In the face of sickness and diseases, we must be aware that satan is behind it all in one way or the other. The satan comes to steal, to kill and to destroy! How does he do it?
•
Indirectly
•
Through heredity or generation curses remember that generational curses can again be just plain disobedience for generations! But the stubborn power of heredity diseases is broken once a person comes under the blood of Jesus and abides in Christ. Nevertheless it is up to the individual to be on guard against spiritual or emotional ties with children of rebellion and disobedience.
•
Wrong Medicines with Side Effects How often people of God blindly take the medicines that the medicine man gives! Though you place yourself in the hands of a doctor, you have a right to know about the effects of anything going into your body. The pharmaceutical industry being one of the largest in the world, one can surely expect medical lobbying in political circles. Remember that the whole world lieth in darkness and in the last days, dangerous conditions will prevail. At the inauguration of a Christian Medical Corporation in Madras, the senior-most Christian doctor on the panel, the chairman of the committee, mentioned how medical representatives have offered expensive gifts, offered to furnish his hospital, and so on. It is common knowledge that doctors receive a commission from medical laboratories for all referrals. Just remember that the doctor and medical science is not a god.
•
Medications Blessed By Occult Practices Money being the major consideration there are unscrupulous elements every where who will resort to any method to make money – including seeking help from the world of the occult.
•
Enemies of the Gospel Giving Instruction to Doctors This method that satan is adopting to attack the kingdom of God’s families. We are all aware of sadistic doctors who even kill patients. But in countries where there is persecution, the messengers of satan are giving instructions to their sympathizers to give wrong medication or lethal medication which will destroy vital organs slowly), to Christians and their children. Directly Satan has an army of evil emissaries. These include spirits of sickness, disease and infirmity. In Luke 13:16, satan had bound a woman with a spirit of infirmity for 18 years In John 10:10 Jesus said that the thief (satan) comes to steal, kill & destroy In Acts 10:38 we read how Jesus went about healing all those who were oppressed of the devil. Satan is the cause and propagator of both sin and sickness. When rebuking sickness, Jesus used the same harsh word that He used to rebuke evil spirits - epitimao Luke 4:35 - “And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him. And when the devil had thrown him in the midst, he came out of him, and hurt him not.” Luke 4:39 - “And he stood over her, and rebuked the fever; and it left her: and immediately she arose and ministered unto them.” In Mark 9: 25-27, Jesus attributed deafness and dumbness to the devil.
•
When the soul is not prosperous As knowledge is increasing on the face of the earth, many doctors are realizing the importance of the condition of the emotions and the mind in the healing of their patients. But, the Word of God already has much to say about this. In 3 John 2, we read “...prosper and be in health even as thy soul doth prosper”. Health, which is what most Christians need, is directly connected to the condition of the soul! Prosperity of the soul is the Lordship of Jesus Christ and the kingdom of God ruling in our souls. Rom. 14:17 tells us that, “... the kingdom of God is Righteousness, Peace and Joy in the Holy Ghost.” If we fail to walk in the righteousness, peace and joy imparted or manifested by the Holy Ghost, then the kingdom of God is not having pre eminence in our lives, leaving us open to ill health. Consider these verses about Joy. Nehemiah 8:10 - “...the joy of the Lord is your strength.” John 16:24 “....ask and receive that your joy may be full.” I John 3:22 “And whatsoever (includes joy) we ask, we receive of Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight.”.
•
Envy This is a sly evil that slowly but surely rots the bones. Proverbs 14:30 says, “A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness of the bones”.
•
Heart of despair God gives us beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness (Isaiah 61:3). But a heart without joy, a heart that is filled with despair constantly, evokes sickness. Proverbs 17:22 says, “A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones”. That is bone marrow depression for you! Isn’t it amazing that a joyful heart is like a medicine? Have we taken enough of this medicine called "Joy"? Doctors also find it easier to treat a cheerful person than a gloomy person.
•
Anger Anger is pure Danger. It directly produces ulcers, B.P., which in turn causes many diseases. Medical textbooks record the case of Angry Tom. When he died, the autopsy showed dark red spots all over his stomach wall. Proverbs 29:22 says, “An angry man stirreth up strife, and a furious man aboundeth in transgression.” and James 3 16 tells us that where there is strife, there is every evil work. Every evil work surely includes sickness. A wise old man once remarked that food eaten on an angry stomach will do more harm than good!
•
Negative attitudes We are aware of the evil around us but always meditating on the evil around us is a negative attitude that is only going to affect us. What is the use of wanting to know every detail about every evil around you, unless you know and have the power to change it? This information age is bound to bombard our five senses with the open and subtle evil that is around us. Unless a believer knows how to guard his five senses, which are like five gates, he is in danger. The Bible has some powerful things to say about our thinking. Proverbs 23:7 teaches us that as a man thinks in his heart so is he. Every individual has faced the problem of conquering thoughts. Proverbs 4:23 teaches us to keep a watch over our heart or spirit, because out of it flows the issues or forces of life or what ever it contains. Whatever is constantly in our mind or before the five senses have the tendency to drop down into our spirit: and in a time of need, only what is in our heart will pop out Psychiatrists have discovered that thought patterns are directly connected to the chemical reactions in our body. But, Bless God who has given us weapons to control every thought!
2 Cor. 10:4 says, "For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds; Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; and having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled. Philippians 4:8 exhorts us about what we are to think about. “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things”. Proverbs 16:3 assures us, “Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established.”
•
Worry Worry makes a person weary. Worrying is not a sign of responsibility. Worry is actually unbelief in the Father’s love and care. Worry is an indicator of poor faith. II Cor 7:10 warns us that the sorrow of this world worketh death. Can you dream of a worry free life? Yes, we can imagine how much better our lives would be without the curse of worries. God knows what worry does to a person. How it slows him down and chokes him in all areas of life. Many major heart and mental illness can be traced back to worry. Remember that more than what you eat, it is what is eating you that could be the cause of many health problems. The cares of this world tend to choke out the living, life giving Word of God which we receive (Mark 4:19). Jesus taught us not to take anxious thought for the next day (read Matt. 6:28 – 34). In 1 Peter 5:7, we are exhorted: “Casting all your care upon him; for He careth for you".
•
Neglecting the body – the temple of the Holy Ghost 1 Cor. 6:19 tells us that our body is the temple of the Holy Ghost. We have all abused our bodies at some time in one way or the other. We have noted 5 ways in which the temple of the Holy Ghost is abused. a) Over eating Gluttony is plain sin. You may say, “Oh! I am not a glutton!” But, wait a moment! It is amazing how some know so much about different kinds of food and cuisine. We must accept the fact that many Christians spend more time eating than praying. Check out how many hours you are spending a week at the dining table and compare that with the hours you spend, feeding the soul. In the Old Testament, gluttony was considered such a terrible sin that kept people away from God that it was punishable by death (Deut. 21: 20, 21).
b) Lack of rest or overwork In Phil. 2: 25, 27& 30, we read of Epaphroditus who, “Because for the work of Christ, he was nigh unto death, to supply your lack of service towards me.” Epaphroditus' overwork was for a great cause, for the kingdom of God. But from this, we get a clue that overwork can lead to death. Hard work and diligent work is a virtue while overwork can be deathly. Each one has to discern for himself about rest and overwork in relation to their calling in life. Remember that oppressive overwork is a part of the curse (Gen. 3: 18:19). In some pagan cultures, work is a god. c) Wrong food While we are to thankfully eat what is set before us, there can be a desire to eat foods that are plain junk! Would we pour any kind of oil into our automobile engine? Would you appreciate it if the man at the gas station fills your petrol engine with diesel? Wrong combination of foods taken at the same time can also cause havoc. Paul cautioned young Timothy to take some nourishing grape juice for his stomach condition. (1 Tim 5:23). While we are not to be over concerned about eating, we should use wisdom in what goes into our body, the temple of the Holy Ghost. d) Uncleanness In 2 Cor. 7: 1, we are warned, “let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” This verse in its context is purely referring to the spiritual. But we can be cautioned that unclean food habits, lack of hygiene, questionable foods and beverages can lead to “filthiness of the flesh”. It would be good to remember that Heaven is a clean, clean place! e) Irregular food Common sense and experience tell us that food eaten at irregular times is unhealthy. We just have to remember that our body is the temple of the Holy Ghost and we have a clear warning in 1 Cor. 3: 17, “If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.”
•
Unforgiving spirit An unforgiving spirit breeds bitterness. A bitter spirit will not take long to show its corrupting influence on the body. Bitterness is a deadly poison. Many diseases that cause distortions in the skeletal system is caused by bitterness in the soul. Bitterness in the soul also causes many kinds of skin diseases. An unforgiving spirit cuts off the grace and mercy of God in time of need and the body is left spiritually defenseless to spirits of sickness, disease and infirmity. Jesus said in Matt. 6:14, “If ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father in heaven forgive you your trespasses.” Jesus repeats it in Mark 11:25, “...and when you stand praying, forgive if ye have aught against any; that your Father also in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.” In Matthew 18: 23-35 Jesus through a parable clearly tells of unforgiving people being handed over to the tormentors! What a frightening thought! Who are the tormentors? The devil and his angels. Remember that UNFORGIVENESS IS THE TORMENTORS REALM.
•
Fear Fear is the opposite of faith. Faith pleases God and fear pleases the devil. By faith you have access to the throne of grace. By fear, demons from the region of the damned have access into your life. This certainly includes sickness and diseases. Sickness has come to be an accepted and expected way of life. People expect to be sick. When your neighbor has 'flu, you expect to get it, you fear it and as certainly as a magnet attracts iron filings, you attract the attention of that disease and it walks in. Learn to see sickness and diseases as evil things that need to be kicked out and kept out. Job said in Job 3:25, “...the thing that I greatly feared is come upon me.”
•
The Tongue The tongue controls our life. It is compared to a helm in a ship and a bridle in a horse's mouth (James 3: 3,4). If the tongue can be controlled, the whole body can be controlled. James 3:2 says, “If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.” James 3:6 says, that the tongue, “...sets on fire the course of nature” Putting it simply, wrong words can stop the natural healing process in the body. For example, a simple cough is an auto response to throw out impure material. But how many of us would immediately say, “Watch out! That cough could lead to wheezing!” When you said that, the auto response mechanism in the body stops working, giving way to wheezing. Incredible isn’t it? Yet, it is true. Science is slowly finding out the effect of words on the human system. Proverbs 18: 20, 21 says, “death and life are in the power of the tongue.” Proverbs 15:4 teaches that perverse speech causes a breach in the spirit. This means that wrong words, create an opening in our spirit for the enemy to come in: and the enemy can be a messenger of sickness.
•
Criticizing One never thinks that a critical, fault finding spirit can directly affect our health. But God’s word says that it does. Isaiah .58:9 directly implies that "when we stop the pointing of the finger, then our health will spring forth speedily.” Maybe you have criticized verbally, but having a critical attitude or thoughts is enough to ruin health.
•
Lack of Unity Lack of unity in the body of Christ is hitherto unknown as a cause of sickness. The glory
of God (the Holy Spirit) has been given to us so that we may be one. (John 17:22) The Holy Spirit who brings healing and health cannot work in an atmosphere where there is no unity as Jesus desired in John 17. This opens the door to sickness and diseases. Read John 17 carefully and you will discern that the type of unity that Jesus wants is lacking in most Christian circles. Eph. 2: 22 teaches us that we are builded together for a habitation of God. God has chosen to dwell in His Church: and He can fill up His glorious residence only if we are built together. Christians will never see the healings that they would like to until they come into a unity fit for God.
•
Not Givers A large percentage of sick people are not cheerful givers to God. This has been proved by statistics in many places. We firmly believe that there are demons who we call “stingy demons” that prevent people from giving: for they know the power in giving. They (demons of stinginess) know that the emissaries of sickness cannot operate freely if the children keep the principles of God in the matters of giving of their material substance. So, they are like under cover agents that lay a stranglehold on Christians. Some Christians are discovering that giving freely is a powerful weapon against the forces of darkness. On the lighter side, remember how big a hundred dollar bill looks in church and how small it becomes at the shopping mall – to some at least! We are stewards of what God has given us and must use our resources as God wills and not according to lesser desires. God has ordained that all His people should be actively involved in the furnishing of His house, the Church. Please read Malachi 3:8-11. I want to draw your attention to verse 11, “And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes...” Sickness is a dirty devourer and God will personally step in, to rebuke the devourer when His people are faithful in their giving. Read also Psalm 41: 1 - 3
•
Wrong Teaching Those who oppose divine healing as practiced by the apostles usually have never ventured much in personally laying hands on the sick or they have never seen a physical demonic manifestation nor would they have been witness to a miracle of healing. What would such teachers do if they were to come into direct personal, physical confrontation with demon powers? Trying to remember their theology would be vain! Are there not hundreds of “Bible” colleges that systematically teach their students just to argue against healing? What would happen if the products of such colleges begin to shepherd churches and teach?
• •
Some examples of wrong teaching are Sickness is the will of God We get closer to God through our sickness
• • •
God teaches us through sickness God does not always heal Healing is a personal matter What a tragic, uncompassionate situation it is when a fine looking minister in good health looks on a sick, languishing person and gives him or her such teachings. It is important that you are in a church body that believes and teaches healing. Or at least in a church that does not criticize and hinder the healing ministry. It could be a matter of life and death. See Ezekiel 34: 4.
•
Not under Authority Many Christians do not like the word authority or submission. Now, we beseech you to read this and the next point with much thought and prayer. Please read these scriptures slowly and become familiar with them. I am certain that some will be delivered and receive their healing if they dwell on these two points for some time. Eph. 4: 11-14 is a fulfillment of Ps. 68: 18 The new testament church body is structured so that the Lord God may dwell among men. There is absolutely no doubt about it. Jesus has set His ministers or officers in the church. Disobedience, we know, grieves the Spirit of God and drives out His Blessed presence. The Church is supposed to be tightly knit and compacted. Like your body where all the limbs and organs function as one. When your kidneys refuse to receive instructions from the brain, you are in trouble. When we refuse to receive instructions from God through the locally instituted head, then we are in bigger trouble than we realize. Many do not realize this. I often come across “independent” Christians! Brothers and sisters, wake up to the fact that there is no independence in the body of Christ. Instead, there ought to be a strong inter-dependence. This may be an affront to the statue of Liberty! But it is a matter of life and death! Many Christians are content with reading their Bible and praying at home and church is a place they visit when they want to. Our first fellowship is with the Father through the Son. When we are in right fellowship with the Father, He guides us to a local place of fellowship where we can become members one of another, a living stone in the house of the Lord (1 Peter 2:5). Many Christians now want home delivery of spiritual things! Long distance and Tele ministries have their power and place, but there is no substitute for your physical presence in the assembly. Hebrews 10: 25 warns us, “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another”. When my left hand is injured, the right hand reaches out to help by patting, scratching, dressing the wound or even holding the left hand up. But if my left hand was detached from my shoulder, or not properly joined, do you think I am going to get a proper healing? True and permanent healing flows from the inside, through the blood stream, the layering of the tissues and ligaments, one upon the other – from one member to another. In these last days, as the Lord finishes the building of His Church, He will insist in the proper order of things and you will find that methods that once worked in bringing healing are not working now. 1 Thess. 5:12 exhorts us to “Know them that labour among you and are over you in the
Lord.” Sick one, have you complied with this commandment? Every sheep needs a shepherd and every sheep needs a sheepfold. Thank God for the great open pastures, but know your calling, your place and your sheepfold – the place where you can truly rest. Stubborn sickness and disease can come on a child of God who is not under any spiritual authority.
•
Not functioning as a Member Ephesians 4:16 teaches us that we are members one of another. This has a very serious implication that requires a lot of sacrificial commitment. Oh, if we could only know the importance and the value of being one of another! If we can grasp the fact that the life of Christ flows only from one to another! Rom. 12: 5 says, “We being many are one body in Christ, and every one, Members one of another” What if you one part of you body, say the nose, refuses to function. You will be in big trouble. There is trouble whenever one of the parts does not fulfill their part in the body. Realize the seriousness of being a Christian, a member in the body of Christ. As a Christian, you have a definite function in the Body and if you are not a functioning member, you could be causing harm to yourself or to others. This harm or evil includes sickness. Ephesians 6:15 teaches us to have our feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace. This implies that every Christian is a messenger of the gospel. If you are not spreading the gospel of peace or if you are not actively involved in any effort in spreading the gospel, you are not having on the full armor of God and you will not be able to withstand the attacks of the enemy, which of course includes sickness. We must have our gospel “shoes” on. Imaging step out of your home barefoot. How far can you go and how safely? A Christian who is not actively involved in spreading the gospel is not a moving Christian. He is a sitting duck for the fiery darts of the enemy. It is hard for the devil to keep up with a moving Christian. It is easy for him to encircle a sitting, ineffective Christian.
•
When Shepherds do not Feed Properly A shepherd or pastor has to see to it that his flock is fed and that too properly. If you were not taught some math or if your math teacher did not know how to teach, you will realize the folly of it later in life. If you have never been taught about healing, or if you have not been taught correctly, it will have its consequences. You will not be able to resist sickness and diseases and they will find easy entry and lodge in your body. In Ezekiel.34:1-5, we read, “1 And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, 2 Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD unto the shepherds; Woe be to the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves! should not the shepherds feed the flocks? 3 Ye eat the fat, and ye clothe you with the wool, ye kill them that are fed: but ye feed not the flock.
4 The diseased have ye not strengthened, neither have ye healed that which was sick, neither have ye bound up that which was broken, neither have ye brought again that which was driven away, neither have ye sought that which was lost; but with force and with cruelty have ye ruled them. 5 And they were scattered, because there is no shepherd: and they became meat to all the beasts of the field, when they were scattered.” It is to your advantage to be in a proper fellowship where the word of God is properly taught.
•
When the Ministers do not use Authority - Failure of God’s servants Every believer has rights as a Christian to resist the devil and his works. When the ordained officers of the church do not use their authority, sickness and disease can affect the people. In Matt. 17: 14 – 21, Jesus comes down from the mount of transfiguration, and finds that his disciples are unable to cure a young boy. Jesus rebukes the disciples for their unbelief and heals the boy. When the disciples ask Jesus why they could not heal the boy, Jesus attributed it to their unbelief. Unbelief in what, we may wonder? In Matthew 10, Jesus gives his disciples power over all unclean spirits and to heal all manner of sickness and disease. It is obvious that the disciples had forgotten this great authority to the point where they were ineffective. Invested authority was not used. In the same way today, especially, when ministers of God who know that they are ordained, authorized and empowered by Christ, fail to use their authority, sickness and disease, enter in or get a stubborn foothold.
•
Lack of Fasting There are some kinds of devils of sickness that leave only when they see a minister who is no stranger to fasting. Jesus indicated this in the same case we saw above in Matthew 17:14-21. Jesus gave two reasons for the disciples’ inability to heal – unbelief and lack of fasting. Fasting makes one more conscious of spiritual things. A fasted minister is thereby more effective in the realm of spirits of sickness, disease and infirmity. This does not mean that one has to fast before casting out every devil! The minister should be familiar with fasting, and more important have a fasted (self-controlled) life. It would be good to remember here, that there is no special gift called the “gift of casting out devils”
•
Not Honoring Parents The Bible firmly teaches us to Honour our parents. In Eph. 6: 2, 3 we read, “Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise; That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.”
• •
This command teaches that if we do not honor our parents, It will not be well with us
We will not live long on the earth
Sickness and disease have access into the life of a person who dishonors his or her parents. •
Double Mind Being in a continuous state of double mindedness is dangerous. James 1:8 says that a double minded man is unstable in all his ways and will not receive anything of the Lord. Indecision you would have noticed, causes fatigue. A person with a weary mind will eventually be weak in body, increasing chances of sickness. In Matt. 6:22, Jesus made a remarkable statement. He said, “If thine eye be single, (or single minded) thy whole body shall be full of light.” What a simple and powerful statement! A double mind is a sure curse that leaves a person open to illness.
•
Covetousness An inordinate desire to possess things is called covetousness. The Bible calls this a sin. In Proverbs 28:16, we read, “He that hateth covetousness shall prolong his days.” The opposite of this is – he that loves covetousness will shorten his days. The Bible teaches us to be content with such things as we have (Hebrews 13:5). Covetousness is a sin that will keep us out of heaven (1 Corinthians 6:10). It is an evil that attracts sickness.
•
Unfaithfulness Faithfulness is a rare virtue in these last days. Proverbs 13:17 states that a faithful ambassador is health. The opposite of this is – an unfaithful person will not have health. He will have sickness.
•
A Carnal Mind Carnality is to be worldly-minded. The Bible warns us about friendship with this world (James 4:4) and falling in love with the things of this world. (1 John 2:15) Romans 8:6 warns us of a mind that thinks like the world does. “For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.” I have heard it said that there is a time to be spiritual and a time to be...., whatever you want, I suppose! That means, there is a time to have death and a time to have war also! A Christian is exhorted to walk in the spirit (Gal 5:16). We cannot be partakers of the forbidden things of the world without being partakers of its consequences too. A Christian is given the mind of Christ.(1 Cor 2:16). What a sacred trust! If we persist in being carnal, it will be to our destruction – bodily and spiritually.
•
Diminishing Hope Hope is a partner to faith that pleases God and brings His blessings. But when hope diminishes or is lost, faith is affected. Many do not realize that sometimes what they need to kindle is their hope and not their faith. There may be nothing wrong with their faith, but the hope they have may not be sound Bible Hope. Proverbs 13:12 says that when hope is deferred, it makes the heart sick. When hopes never materialize it makes the heart sick. Just as faith is necessary to receive healing or ward off sickness, so also is hope vital. Often when people die of sickness, it is not for lack of faith but because they lose their hope or desire to live. A life that never receives an answer to prayer is a life of deferred hope. Jesus said that we are to ask and receive so that our joy may be full (John 16:24). Christians have much to learn in the area of receiving or taking (amazingly, both the words come from the root word ‘lambano’) what is rightfully theirs in Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior. Proverbs 14: 30 teaches us that a sound heart is the life of the flesh. The condition of the flesh depends on the condition of the spirit. Joy is vital to the well being of the spirit. Crushed joy can wither the body.
•
Love of Money What does money have to do with sickness and disease? The Lord has been teaching us very recently about the direct connection between money and sickness. Let me explain using the incidence with which the Lord taught us this lesson. A very close and dear pastor friend suddenly died. He had been healed of kidney problems and his healing had even marvelously changed the color of his skin. He looked healthy and truly fair. He went about doing his work with great zeal. Suddenly he took ill and in a few days was gone. It was an agonizing time of waiting on the Lord, seeking understanding. We cannot let people go and buckle up saying religiously, “It was the mysterious will of God” The unbeliever has another term for it – destiny or fate. The Lord then said that it was the love of money that caused that pastor's death. I asked the Lord to teach me more, as I knew that pastor to be a man of very high spiritual and ethical standards and accountability. It was impossible for that man to be a lover of money. The Lord then went on to explain what the love of money is. No Christian worth his salt is a lover of money. But we become lovers of money without our knowledge, when we spend a great deal of our time, thoughts and energies on matters that relate to money. When all that we do, or the decisions we take are money based, then we are lovers of money. Now this may be hard to digest. We need money to live one may say and so we have to give it a lot of thought. Remember that money is only a medium of exchange! On being healed, my pastor friend had been spending a lot of his time running round trying to raise money for his works. He had to have the money to finish his work. Instead of trusting God to provide the money in His way, he sought to raise the funds. Of course, all prayer was also only for the needed money. Of course, all prayer, directly or indirectly hinted for the needed money. Gradually,
spiritual things took a back seat and the drive to get the money for the work of God became his prime concern. This, child of God, is an example of love of money. With all love, but with all boldness and certainty let me tell you that you have the love of money if: o o
A sizable percentage of your thoughts are on money. This depends on each individual. A sizable percentage of your energy is spent on discussing money matters. Discussion on finances has to be in proportion with the time that you spend discussing spiritual things. For example, if you are going to discuss money matters for one hour, make sure you spend a minimum of 10 hours praying and meditating from God's word about it!
You are living by money alone and not by faith, the leading of the Holy Spirit, the Word and promises of God, if: The majority of your decisions are always connected to money. o o o o o
Your relationships are based on, or influenced by money. Money is your guide. You are working only for money. You have a great respect for money. ....and it can go on.
But I think, you can get the idea now. Jesus used money in his life, but from the way he used it, we see that he had scant respect for it and relegated it to its rightful place. Make no mistake about it, and be sure that you can stand before God and say that you have money matters in their rightful place. Otherwise, you are in the grip of love of money and 1 Timothy 6:10 says that the love of money is the root of all evil; and without controversy, sickness is evil. Think less about money, you will be a happier and healthier person!
•
Lack of Money We have seen that the love of money is a cause of sickness, which is an evil. The Bible does not say that money is evil but the love of it as explained earlier, is evil. While the Bible teaches us contentment, it also shows us how God wants us to be blessed materially. God is not against possessions but He is jealous about anything that possesses us! He wants us for Himself one hundred percent but it is wrong to think that piety and poverty go together. Deuteronomy Chapter 28 shows us that the blessings of obedience include great material blessings and poverty is a curse for breaking the commandments of God. Just as it is wrong to think that sickness is a blessing, it is wrong to think that poverty is a blessing. Proverbs 10:15 says, “…the destruction of the poor is their poverty.” A pastor who
worked for many years in the poorest slums of India, once told me that most of the sins of the poor were connected to their lack of money. Lack of money can rob us of clothing, shelter and food, which can in turn cause sickness and disease. We know of many children and workers of God in India who are sick in their body, simply because they do not have the money to buy food. In the early church, believers shared so that none lacked (Acts 2: 44, 45). Let us remember that our Savior, Jesus became poor that we might be made rich (2 Cor. 8:9).
•
Wrong Works Good works are powerful in extending the kingdom of God. Jesus went about doing good and healing. We are a peculiar people zealous of good works! (Titus 2:14). Bad works or wrong works are contrary to the kingdom of God. Ps. 106: 29 says, “They provoked Him to anger with their inventions (works) and the plague brake in upon them” Here, plagues or epidemics are directly linked to wrong works. Right works are like a wall around us.!
•
Satan wants to destroy the temple of God Satan’s intent is to harm the temple of God, both corporate and individual. 1Corinthians 6:19 says that our body is the temple of the Holy Ghost. Therefore, it is no surprise if satan wants to attack the stronghold of his enemy, the source from where the river of God that can foil his plan flows. Just as the Lord is for the body (1 Cor. 6:13), know that satan is against the body. Understand that the enemy of God and the adversary of our souls, is an evil personality called satan, who has many messengers he uses to attack temples of God.
•
Witchcraft Witchcraft in Church is not uncommon, but it is not recognized for what it is and is a major cause for sickness in the body of Christ. In 1 Samuel, 15:23 we are warned that rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft and stubbornness is like idolatry. When there is rebellion in a church it is plain old witchcraft! Disagreeing as a Christian and working constructively for the betterment of the Church is a different thing. But, I think you know what I mean – a trouble, sly , cunning and mischief causing attitude. This can grossly affect an entire body of believers. How often we have seen pastors become sick because of people close to them rebelling and thus releasing the power of witchcraft. (See, “Why are people with strong faith and godly lives sick?")
•
White Witchcraft
White witchcraft is a subtle variation of plain witchcraft mentioned above and is not easily identifiable. (We are not referring to the known form of White Witchcraft, which is outside Christianity and is based on the “Book of Shadows”) I am calling this white witchcraft simply to differentiate it from plain, simple witchcraft or black witchcraft. White witchcraft starts off by claiming and intending to do good. Prayer and some spiritual trappings will accompany it. This is how many cults with a dose of the Bible start. God works through prayer. But many problems are also caused during times of prayer. When people with unclean hearts and ulterior motives pray, their words will be suggestive prayers, manipulative prayers, pointed prayers and such, aimed at controlling the individual and his or her family. When such attitudes and spirits are present, the church body is open to evil – including, sickness and diseases. The Bible names some of these major attitudes and spirit which was prevalent in the early church • • •
Spirit of Jezebel - Which misleads even servants of God (Rev. 2:20) Spirit of Diotrephes - Which loves to have the preeminence (3 John 1: 9-11) Spirit of Nicolaitans - Which conquers and binds the people (Rev. 2: 6,15) The Bible warns us that many deceivers have gone out into the world that many would come in the Name of the Lord Jesus. Hebrews 6: 1,2 talk about the fundamental doctrines of Christ. 2 John 9-11 warns us about those who do not have the doctrines of Christ. If we partake of their deeds we will be partaking of evil, thus leaving us wide open to sickness and disease.
•
Contentions and Strife James 3:16 says, “For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.” Now, this is very clear and needs no explanation. The Bible warns us to avoid contention and strife. (Proverbs 17:4, Galatians 5:20, James 3:16).
•
Not serving the Lord with gladness Hebrews 9:14 teaches that we are cleansed to serve the living God. Every believer has to be sure that he or she is serving the living God in the calling they are placed in: and whatever they do in that place, they are to do it as unto the Lord and not as to men (Col. 3:23) Deuteronomy 28:45-47 warns us of serving with a murmuring and complaining spirit. “Moreover all these curses shall come upon thee, and shall pursue thee, and overtake thee, till thou be destroyed; because thou hearkenedst not unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to keep his commandments and his statutes which he commanded thee: And they shall be upon thee for a sign and for a wonder, and upon thy seed for ever. Because thou servedst not the LORD thy God with joyfulness, and with gladness of heart, for the abundance of all things.” Not serving the Lord with gladness opens the door to curses that lead to destruction.
•
Laziness Laziness is an attitude that causes moral, spiritual and physical destruction. Just eat, sleep and be lazy. Make it your general lifestyle: and watch what happens in your body! Proverbs 21: 25 says, “The desire of the slothful killeth him; for his hands refuse to
labour.” (See also Prov. 24: 30 –34). Remember the saying - An idle mind is the devils workshop!
•
Lack of Godliness The Holy Spirit is the spirit of Holiness. The Holy Spirit has come into our life to produce godliness. Those who resist this working of the Holy Spirit can expect sickness and disease. 1 Timothy 4:8 says, “For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.” How much importance we give to exercising and how little to godliness! Exercising (specially as the world teaches) has little benefits. But attending to godliness has all the benefits of exercising, has great promises for the present life and the next. A godly person will be an active person going about serving His God and reaps all the benefits of godliness which exercising cannot give. In our present culture, exercising is a promised magic cure for all kinds of ailments and to what lengths one goes to in this pursuit! Put that effort into godliness and watch how sickness and disease stay away from you. Depending on exercising and not on godliness cannot keep sickness and disease away from you.
•
Meddling with God's life cycle God has His method of starting or stopping the life cycle. Sickness and diseases among infants and children can be a direct result of parents having meddled, in a worldly way, with the life cycle ordained by God. How many God given children have been aborted or received deadly medication while in the womb? Only God knows that number of attempted murders! The devil will try to hurt the child even in the womb. Traumatic experiences during pregnancy can cause deformities in children later. Malachi 2:15 tells us that God wants godly children. The devil does not want this to happen.
•
Pride Proverbs 16:18 teaches us, “Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.” Sickness and diseases that cause us to fall terribly in life or destroy our life can be caused directly by a proud heart. Pride is Lucifer’s chief characteristic and his main weapon that he uses on every one. May God remove all hidden pride in any form.
•
Lack of Love for God The first commandment has always been and always will be Deuteronomy 6:5 “And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy
might.” (See also Matthew 22: 37, 38). God promises life to those who love Him. Deuteronomy 30:16 “In that I command thee this day to love the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commandments and his statutes and his judgments, that thou mayest live and multiply: and the LORD thy God shall bless thee in the land whither thou goest to possess it.” 2 Timothy 3:4 warns us about being lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God. Not loving God as He desires, can cause lack of life. Death producing conditions can set in. May the eyes of God’s people be opened to see that our God wants us to glorify Him and His salvation in our spirit, soul and bodies, which belong to God.
Paul’s Thorn in the Flesh All who have suffered prolonged illness and have been seeking divine healing have at one point been baffled by Paul’s thorn in the flesh as mentioned in 2 Corinthians 12:7 “And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.” It is commonly assumed that Paul’s thorn in the flesh was a physical sickness or disease. This is a common conclusion or even interpretation. But keep in mind, that “no prophecy (miraculous knowledge beyond human sagacity or conjecture) of scripture is of any private interpretation.” (2 Peter 1:20). By a careful study of the preceding passages, starting from 2 Corinthians, chapter 11 and other related passages, we can understand what Paul actually suffered from. Let us consider these facts about Paul’s thorn in the flesh. The phrase ”thorn in the flesh” does not appear for the first time in the Bible in 2 Corinthians 12:7. It has also been used several times in the Old Testament. Numbers 33:55 says, “But if ye will not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you; then it shall come to pass, that those which ye let remain of them shall be pricks in your eyes, and thorns in your sides, and shall vex you in the land wherein ye dwell.” Joshua 23 13 says, “ Know for a certainty that the Lord your God will no more drive out any of these nations from before you; but they shall be snares and traps unto you, and scourges in your sides, and thorns in your eyes, until ye perish from off this good land which the Lord your God hath given you.” Judges 2:3 says, “Wherefore I also said, I will not drive them out from before you; but they shall be as thorns in your sides, and their gods shall be a snare unto you.” Every time the phrase “thorn in the flesh” or similar words have been used previously in the Bible, it refers to the enemies of God and of Israel and not to any physical disease.
Paul, in 2 Corinthians 12:7, calls the thorn in the flesh, a messenger from satan. The original Greek word used was “Angelos” which means messenger and refers to a personality and not to a thing. The thorn in the flesh therefore was a demonic personality used by satan to buffet Paul and not a thing such as a disease In 2 Corinthians 11:23-29 Paul enumerates the buffetings that he underwent in his ministry – whippings, beatings, stonings, shipwrecks, weariness, perils, toils, sleeplessness, hunger, thirst, cold and nakedness. In all the sufferings that Paul enumerates, sickness is never mentioned. Paul was working to fulfill an apostolic responsibility of establishing churches. This involved journeys to many distant places and would have laid a heavy physical drain on Paul: and many times, the people to whom Paul ministered and who should have taken care of him, did not do so properly (See, Philippians 2:30 & 1 Timothy 5:17). Paul labored more abundantly for the Lord than all the other apostles (1 Corinthians 15:10) Could he have done this if he was a sick man? When Paul pleaded with God that the thorn may depart (2 Corinthians 12:8), God told Paul that His strength was made perfect in weakness (not sickness). Weakness and strength are opposites. God was telling Paul that His grace was sufficient to move him from weakness to strength and not to remain in his weakness. Therefore, when Paul was weak, due to buffetings from the messengers and instruments of satan, then, He became strong with the Lord’s strength. Paul was a man who practiced healing on himself. When he was stoned and left for dead, he suddenly got up and walked away by the power of God working in his body. (Acts 14;19,20) When Paul was bitten by a viper, he shook the venomous snake off and suffered no harm (Acts 28:5) We must remember that though Paul had an abundance of revelations, he was still pressing on for their complete manifestation. (See Philippians 3: 8-14) Finally, Paul never taught that sickness was a blessing from God. When writing to the Corinthians, Paul warns them that sickness and premature death was caused by a lack of discerning the Body of Christ (1 Cor 11:29,30) If Paul himself had been sick, the Corinthians would have questioned him about the cause of his sickness. Paul’s thorn in the flesh, therefore, was not sickness, but a messenger from satan, sent to attack him. Two other aspects must be considered when talking about Paul’s thorn in the flesh. How did the devil penetrate the protective armor of God, which Paul himself describes in Ephesians 6? Why could he not use the shield of faith to quench the fiery darts of the enemy? Paul and Barnabas were an evangelistic team put together directly by the Holy Spirit (Acts 13:2). Later, Paul and Barnabas disagreed on the matter of John Mark (Acts 15: 37-40). The contention became so sharp, that Paul and Barnabas parted ways. James 3:16 says , “where strife and envying is, there is confusion and every evil work.” Paul, by permitting strife, had laid himself open to the attacks of the devil. Also, Paul had demonstrated a lack of love in refusing to forgive John Mark. Faith works by love (Galatians 5:6): and where there is no faith, we cannot please God. (Hebrews 11:6) It took some time for Paul to overcome this problem, but he later accepts John Mark in ministry (See 2 Timothy 4:11).
Lucifer used his favorite and most powerful weapon against Paul and managed to succeed for a while. Proverbs 13:10 says, “Only by pride cometh contention”. In 2 Corinthians 12:7, Paul admits that the thorn in the flesh was given to prevent him from being exalted beyond measure due to the great revelations he had received. Possibility of pride creeping in was Paul’s weakness which the devil took advantage of, to buffet him. Although, the thorn in the flesh weakened Paul, he did not remain weak. God’s grace was sufficient to remove the thorn (2 Cor 12: 8-10). When the Lord said that His grace was sufficient, most tend to conclude immediately, that the grace of God was given to endure a sickness. Grace was sufficient to move Paul from weakness to strength. The words “weak” and “strong” are opposites. “Let the weak say, I am strong!”, cried the prophet Joel (Joel 3:10). Therefore, Paul triumphantly experiences strength. and declares, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.” (2 Timothy 4:7). Weakness may come, but it need not overcome! In closing this chapter, I would ask again you to consider Paul’s condition in the light of the life, ministry and finished atoning work of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
The case of Job Most believers who have suffered sickness and diseases have at some point of time during their illness identified themselves with Job and have become familiar with many portions of scripture from the book of Job. We often get the impression that a casual or general conversation or a great celestial game is going on between God and satan, in which we, for reasons unknown, are the pawns! The book of Job has some grand facts to teach us about the majesty and sovereignty of God. But let us consider some lesser-known facts that will help us on the road to Divine Healing. Christians should read the Book of Job in the light of Redemption, the Life and Ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Death, Burial and Resurrection of our Lord and the Atoning Work on Calvary. In fact, this is the way any portion of Scripture should be considered today. Job was a godly and upright man, yet he was afflicted with sickness. God later healed him and blessed him abundantly. On reading the account of Job, many wrongly conclude that God allowed Job to suffer sickness in order to bless him. Please consider these lesser-thought-of facts about Job: 1. Job was a godly man, but he was not perfect in the sense that he was not complete in godliness neither was he perfection personified. This could not happen without a rebirth, a recreation of the spirit. (See Eph 4:24) The word ‘perfect’ in the book of Job should be rightly read as mature, one who lacks nothing in physical strength and beauty, morally complete and innocent, ethically pure with sound integrity It refers to his moral and physical state and actions. It is not referring to his spirit which had the fallen nature of Adam. 2. The scriptures teach us that man could be made spiritually perfect only when the blood of Jesus, the perfect sacrifice was shed (Heb 10:1, 10-14). Job however was living under the old covenant or dispensation that could not make a man perfect. (See also Heb 11: 39, 40) 3. Job was a man who lived in a state of fear. In Job 3:25, he says, “For the thing which I feared greatly is come upon me and that which I was afraid of is come upon me.” His fear was that his children having received the blessings of God would forget God and so sin against Him. The Bible does not mention that Job’s children sinned against God. (See Job1:5 ) Job, living before Christ was revealed, was not in a position to enjoy “the perfect love of God which casts out all
fear” (1 John 4:18). Neither did he have the written promises of God concerning the righteous man’s children. Eg: the promise of Isaiah 54:13, “And all thy children shall be taught of the LORD; and great shall be the peace of thy children.” 4. When God said unto satan, “Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth…?" (Job1:8), it is assumed that God was boasting about Job to Satan. The word considered is rendered “turned your attention to, fixed your eyes upon or appointed yourself to” Meditate and remember that we do not know the tone in which God uttered these words ! Rather, God, knowing the evil thought in satan’s mind was in all probability, thundering at him or speaking to satan as a fallen angel, the perpetrator of evil and the Great Deceiver and saying, “ Have you already fixed your eyes on my servant Job?”. God knew that satan intended evil against Job. 5. It was satan and not God who smote Job with boils (Job2:7). Satan received permission from God to do so, because: • •
Adam, His trustee and ruler of the earth had permitted evil on the earth. Job had permitted fear into his life, which opened the way for the attack of the devil, for, fear is of the devil. Remember that God has not given us the spirit of fear (2 Timothy 1:7).
6. While discussing Job, we have to remember a firm fact about the time in which Job lived. At the time of Job, there was no mediator between God and men (Job 9:33, Job 33: 23,24). Job laments his lack of a mediator and Elihu, Job’s friend reveals the power of a mediator. But bless God, now there is one mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus (1Tim 2:5). 7. Not much is heard about the repentance of Job. But the Bible records that Job spoke unwise words during his affliction, for which he repented later. Job 42:1-6 Then Job answered the Lord, and said, I know that thou canst do every thing, and that no thought can be withholden from thee. Who is he that hideth counsel without knowledge? therefore have I uttered that I understood not; things too wonderful for me, which I knew not. Hear, I beseech thee, and I will speak: I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me. I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee. Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes. Like many of us today, Job’s knowledge of God was second hand information or based upon pure observation and not on first hand revelation. But God is merciful and takes us from tribulation to patience to experience to hope and the manifestation of perfect love (See Romans 5 : 3 - 5). Job’s second hand information, based on observation and moral and ethical intuition led him to experiences by which he could boldly declare words to this effect, “God, I have all these days only heard about you and worshipped you. I have had my own understanding of you. But now my spiritual eyes are opened and I am able to see you!” Amen ! Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God! If Job could catch a glimpse of the Redeemer centuries before He came and manifested His works, how much more easily we should be able to see the Lord of Glory today with our spiritual eyes. Oh sick and ailing precious child of God, your faith may be little or great, but has it been put to work to the point where you, as Job of old can cry out, “I see the Lord!”. Those with all
knowledge, having been prayed for by many wonderful servants of God, but still suffering with chronic or terminal illnesses, this is the experience that the Lord wants you to have, so that the abundant and full blessings of God may work in your body. May the Holy Spirit open our spiritual eyes to see the One who was prepared to even die for us. 8. Bible scholars are in agreement that the book of Job was one of the earliest books to be written in the Bible. Job therefore, had no other written scriptures to rely on. Why, Job did not have even the old and precious promises of Psalms 23 or Psalms 91 ! Is it not remarkable that that grand saint endured all, with virtually nothing written and given in his hand as we have today? 9. Job’s suffering was short lived. It probably lasted only 9 months, according to many Bible scholars. After that, he lived under the blessings of God for 140 years. This shows that the end plan of God is to redeem, restore and bless and avenge the adversary of our lives. 10. Job, like many today, praised God for the works of the devil. Job 1:21. In this verse the statements of Job are faithfully and truthfully recorded but all the statements of Job are not the truth. It was his perception. God is not a killer. We know this from the life of Jesus who said that He had come not to destroy lives but to save them. God does not kill for He Himself gave the commandment, “Thou shalt not kill”(Exodus 20:13). However, God’s acts of destruction are in the defense of His own people, or in His wrath and judgment which necessitates the execution of a sentence – as a Judge meting out justice.
LESSONS FROM JOB The main lessons we learn from the book of Job is - God’s sovereignty, splendor and Job’s enduring suffering and affliction patiently, in the face of injustice. In James 5:11, we read, “Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy. “ James cited Job as an example of one who was healed, not one who died of sickness and disease. Wilford Reidt, son-in-law of John G. Lake, makes these further observances concerning Job, "Job in his time, did not have the written promises of God. Promises prevent past evil performances. Today, we have promises to prevent every evil that befell Job, from occurring in our lives."
Past Evil : Satan had God’s permission to attack Job (Job 1:12, Job 2:6). Present Promise: We have God’s assurance to protect us from the attacks of the devil. Psalm 41: 2 “The Lord will preserve him, and keep him alive; and he shall be blessed upon the earth : and thou wilt not deliver him unto the will of his enemies.” Psalm 91:10 "There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling." Jesus said, in Luke 10:19, "Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you." Past Evil: All Job’s children were destroyed (Job1:12, 19). Present Promise : Luke 9:54-56 “And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as
Elias did? But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of for the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them……” Past evil : Satan caused a split in Job’s family. He turned Job’s wife against Job (Job 2:9). Present Promise: The New Testament teaches harmony in the home ( Read Ephesians 5: 2225). Past Evil: Job thought that God had smote him with boils (Job1:21), when actually satan had done it (Job2:7). Job was not in a position of understanding to know that it is God’s will to heal and not to afflict with sickness. Present Promises. In the New Testament, we see that it is God who heals.(Acts 10:38) and it is satan who causes infirmity and bondage (Luke 13:11-17). Past Evil: Satan had power over Job. Present Promise: Jesus had given us all power over the enemy (Luke 10:19). Past Evil: Job did not have sufficient understanding of God. Job 42:3 says, “Who is he that hideth counsel without knowledge? therefore have I uttered that I understood not; things too wonderful for me, which I knew not.“ Present Promise : We have been given wisdom and knowledge in Christ to understand many of the mysteries of God. (Read I Cor 1:30) Further we know that if we “submit ourselves to God and resist the devil, he will flee from you” - James 4 : 7. Past Evil: In the midst of his sickness, Job prayed for death (Job 6; 8,9). Present Promise: When sick, we are to pray for recovery and God will heal us. James 5:14-16 "Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." Dear child of God, we can learn many lessons from the book of Job, but please do not think that you should walk in the shoes of Job. There was only one Job and there is only one you walk in the shoes God created for you.
The Man Born Blind in John 9 We read about a man born blind who was healed by Jesus in John 9 (read the entire chapter for the full story). When asked by his disciples whether the man’s blindness was due to his sins or his parents' sins, Jesus replied, John 9:3 - “Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.” A casual reading of this scripture, or isolating it and reading it would seem to suggest that God made the man blind and then healed him – just to get glory out of it. This, unfortunately, is the conclusion that many quickly jump to. But sincere seekers after the mind of Christ, press on and try to see Jesus. Walk with Him a few days through the gospels and feel His heart beat. May your spiritual eyes be opened! Though the blindness was not due to any particular sin committed by the man or his parents, we must remember that the man was born in a state of sin and had a sinful nature. He and his parents lived in a time when the blood of Jesus had not been shed. This sinful nature could be taken away only be the blood of Jesus, which had not yet been shed. The blindness was thus due to the sinful nature running in the blood stream of all humanity. Then Jesus said, “I must work the works of Him that sent me” (John 9:4), and healed him. Thus we see that the work of the Father is not to make blind but to heal. The will of God is not to afflict with sickness, but rather always, only to heal us.
Difference between Healing & Health Healing means deliverance from sickness. Health means well being of the body, mind and spirit. To be in good health, we need to rest and recoup. Jesus himself, rested when he was weary from travel. John 4:6 says, “Now Jacob's well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied with his journey, sat thus on the well: and it was about the sixth hour.“ Mark 4:38 says, “And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow……” God has instituted physical rest. In fact, medical science will tell you that the heart slows down once in seven days. Hebrews 4:1 talks about the rest that Jesus provides (See also Matthew 11:28) and how we ought to be careful not to lose that rest. God wants us to have physical rest, but the continuous state of rest and tranquility, which He provides, is also a rest in our labors and not a rest from our labors or a complete cessation of work. Health depends on the state of the soul. Many Christians do not require healing but rather health. 3 John 1:2 says, “Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.” Proverbs 14:30 says, “A sound heart is the life of the flesh….” When Jesus is not Lord of a Christian’s life and when the kingdom of God is not functioning in his life, then there can be a loss of health which ultimately can lead to sickness and diseases which would then require healing and the ability to retain the healing. The kingdom of God is described for us in Romans 14:17 is “For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.” When righteousness in Christ is attacked, when there is no peace in the soul and when there is no joy in the Holy Ghost, then our soul is not prosperous. It is amazing how so many Christians are going from meeting to meeting, from doctor to doctor, to find a cure for their ailments when God’s Word can provide the answer. Such will only receive a symptomatic treatment from the doctor or a mercy “touch” from God! When we identify the cause and treat it, then healing is permanent and good health assured.
A great number of Christians have neglected and rejected the supernatural working of the Holy Ghost in the triune composition of man – in his spirit, soul and body. Nehemiah 8:10 teaches us that the joy of the Lord is our strength. But Christians have picked up substitutes from the world – from capsules by compounding quacks to machinery in gyms. Joel 1:12 warns us of the consequences of withered joy. But many Christians are trying to derive joy from outside the kingdom of God! Repent and rejoice in the Lord and go to the closet or the place where you can rejoice again and again in Him who is our life. Now that you know what health is, it is easy to differentiate it from healing. In areas rampant with deadly diseases (even hospitals) one has to be cautious and on guard. Vicious attacks by germs and viruses and spirit beings require immediate healing. Continuous bad health can cause damages that would require healing.
Thus healing can be • • •
Preventive Curative Restorative The top two killers in developed and developing countries are stress induced heart and mental disorders which in turn cause other complications. God surely has an answer for His people in His Word! Do not despise the Word of God. Get into it. Stay in it. Memorize some of it. (It is better to memorize Scripture than the doctors prescriptions!) Meditate on it. Speak it out loud – and you will see the power and effect of His precious Word. Recommended Reading: None of those Diseases, by Dr. S.I. McMillen, published by Flemming H. Revell Company, West Wood, New Jersey.
Medical Science and Divine Healing Does God heal through supernatural means only? Is it proper for a believer to use medicines? Does medical science have any place in the divine order of healing? These are questions that come up whenever the subject of divine healing is taught. Everything created thing in this world, both the natural and the supernatural was created by God and belongs to God. God is the source of all knowledge – true medical knowledge included. The natural means of healing – i.e. rest, nourishment and the use of approved medicines, also belongs to God. Therefore as believers, we can use every God given resource, including medical aid to get well for the glory of God. However, in this present age that we are living in, it would be wise to be careful about the kind of medical treatment we resort to and the hospitals we go to. Is it not true that often a person goes to hospital with a minor ailment and comes out with a deadly one? Know that some segments of the medical industry is a great money making machinery in many places and is one of the topmost industries in the world. Know also that in every hospital people come with various spirits of sickness and diseases. These spirits are usually waiting to attach itself to another person. The thief comes to steal, to kill and to destroy and he will not pass an opportunity to do so. Remember that most hospitals have spirits of sickness and death. Put up a spiritual guard before you go to any such place. Better still, find your self a Spirit anointed doctor and go by his counsel. God’s best is to be healed by His Word, but not all are perfected in the area of manifesting healing. If it were not for medical science, many Christians would be dead by now. Both God and true medical science are interested in the well being of the human body. If you are missing out on being healed without medical attention, then get well with every good method that God places before you. Then find out where you missed it and try to do better the next time. Keep fighting on and pressing on and you will find that the things that you once went to the doctor for treatment now simply fly out in the face of your ever-increasing faith. But remember that satan has perverted many of the wonderful things that God created. Romans 8:22 says, “The whole of creation travails and groans in pain”. Medical science has been used by satan to replace the word of God in the lives of many Christians. Is it not true? Have not medical reports taken the place of the report of God? God does not bless anything that takes the place of Him or His Word in our lives. Medical science is not perfect, but the Word of God is perfect and health to all the flesh.
(Proverbs 4:20,21) Therefore keep medical science in it's proper place. Have faith in God the Healer. Use medicines, bud do not allow it to take the place of God or His Word. Remember King Asa in the Old Testament, and how he put his trust in the physicians to heal his diseased foot and left his trust in God. 2 Chronicles 16:12 “ And Asa in the thirty and ninth year of his reign was diseased in his feet, until his disease was exceeding great: yet in his disease he sought not to the Lord, but to the physicians.” God knows our heart perfectly and He knows exactly where our trust is!
The reason why some Christian groups do not take medicine : The words, ‘pharmacology’, ‘pharmaceuticals’ and related words are derived from the Greek word “Pharmacopoeia” which is also the source of the words ‘sorcery’ and ‘sorcerer’. Revelations 21:8 says that sorcerers will be cast into the lake of fire and will not enter into the kingdom of God. The Greek word for the practicing of magical arts is ‘mageio” from which the modern words ‘magic’ and ‘magician’ are derived. It is pertinent to note that in many countries, including ours, the practitioners of witchcraft or magicians were also the medicine men, or dispensers of native medicine. So there has always been a fine line where demonology and the occult slip into medical knowledge. It is for this reason that some Christian groups shun the use of medicines totally. Satan has 6000 years of experience in dealing with mankind and he needs only a little gap to enter into our lives. The Lord has been prompting me that when His people reject Him as the Great Physician (as Jehovah Rapha) they are rejecting Him. We cannot have Him in bits and pieces. He in His completeness wants to dwell in our lives. The Lord warned that many of His people by rejecting the Healing aspect of His Divine Nature are actually rejecting Him – either knowingly or unknowingly. If your trust has been in medical science (and God who searches the hearts, knows all things) then repent and realize that Jehovah Rapha as revealed in Jesus Christ, is our Great Physician. Realize that doctors and medicines are only instruments in the hands of the Almighty God. Attitudes and conditions that cause sickness from a medical viewpoint : A genuine Christian doctor realizes the importance of the soul which medical science has been denying. But the time has come that secular doctors are realizing that if they have to successfully treat a patient, they have to study and treat the psychosomatic causes. Given below are some disease causing attitudes. We strongly suggest that you read the book recommended below Frustration – Discontent – Envy – Jealousy – Seeking attention – Selfishness – Greed – Anger – Irritableness – Resentment – Hatred – Dejection – Depression – Competitiveness – Anxiety – Doubt – Striving for security – Paranoia – Double-mindedness – Despair – Discouragement -Irresponsibility – Apathy – Overwork – Fatigue – Exposure to extreme climate – Injury – Tension
Recommended Reading: None of those Diseases, by Dr. S.I. McMillen published by Flemming H. Revell Company, West Wood, New Jersey
Why Some are not Healed We will now endeavor to give a few reasons why some are not healed. Please understand that we are all marching on the road to the manifestation of perfect health, though none is perfected in it. This chapter and the chapter on “Causes for Sickness” are meant for those who have been prayed for over and over again and are running from one place to another to have their healing manifested. If some things are hard to understand or accept, please do press on and do not lose heart. Take a break and come back. Not everything that the physicians and the surgeons do to a patient is pleasant. The treatment is often painful, but the patient quietly submits to the treatment. So please do stay under the ministry of the Word for some more time. It may pierce like a two-edged sword, but it will go between the bone and the marrow, to the place where the blood cells are created and bring about a permanent healing. •
Not exercising Faith Faith is essential for healing. Without faith it is impossible to please God (Heb 11:6). God cannot heal in an atmosphere of unbelief. Jesus could not do any mighty work in His own hometown because of the unbelief of the people. Mark 6:5 - “And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them” Unbelief, either on the part of the individual or on the part of his family or church (community unbelief), will hinder the healing work of God. There has been many a time when God is healing people and suddenly a wave of unbelief or envy or resentment by a section of the clergy or the laity comes, and the healing power of God ceases. The Holy Spirit is grieved and withdraws His manifestations. Be absolutely humble, contrite on the inside and the outside, during a time of healing. Shut out thoughts and words that generate fear, unbelief, doubt and resistance and do your best to co-operate with the minister of healing.
•
Looking at symptoms and sense evidence A person who has claimed the healing power of Calvary must believe that he is healed and confess the same with his mouth and not lose heart by looking at the symptoms of the disease, which may persist or worsen before healing is manifested. We believe in our
heart and confession is made unto salvation or deliverance (Romans 10:10). Faith does not say that healing will come. That is hope. Faith says that healing is done! Praise the Lord who bore the stripes for it!. How often, hope is mistaken for faith. Just as our salvation was accomplished on Calvary, even so, our healing was accomplished at the cruel whipping post. The eye of faith sees it. Hearing about it has brought faith, but faith moves on to seeing! Faith calls upon and speaks those things which do not exist as if they exist. Peter, walking on the water, began to sink, when he took his eyes off Jesus - to look at the threatening waves (Math 14: 19-20, 30). Similarly, if we keep focusing on what we see and feel, our faith will be hindered and healing delayed. The things that can be seen, felt or heard, the things that are subject to the five senses – they are all temporal, that means they are subject to change, either for better or for worse according to the reaction of the individual. When Jesus healed a certain dumb boy (Mark 9: 17-19) the boy fell down as one dead and all the people believed him dead. Yet, when Jesus lifted him up, he arose, fully healed. Often when a disease is leaving the body, it flares up. There is always a conflict between the spirit world and the world of matter. When sickness caused by germs or spirits leave the body, the condition might seem to worsen. Do not be alarmed. It is only for a very brief time. But your reaction at this stage is important. Hold your ground, do not cast away your confidence and thereby the manifestation. Therefore, do not be moved by the evidence of your eyes. “Walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Cor. 5:7) and nothing will hinder your healing. •
Fear Fear is one of the ever present companions of illness. Fear may come, but it need not overcome. “The thing that I greatly feared is come upon me" says Job 3:25. If you are filled with the fear that you will not be healed or recover from your sickness you can be sure that you will not be healed. Fear is of the devil and it attracts evil. 2 Timothy 1:7 says “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind”. Fear is a favorite weapon of satan and he uses it in times of sickness to prevent children of God from receiving healing. The result of fear is deadly, stimulating changes in the body that causes psychosomatic diseases and precipitates severe malfunction in the entire human system. The human body was not designed to handle fear ! It is more faith compatible! Doctors will not operate upon a person who is filled with fear. They will try to calm the person down first by sedating him because they know that all their efforts to heal the person will be nullified by a fearful and depressed attitude. Doctors find it easier to treat a cheerful patient and the physicians of old have a saying, “Medicine given through the ears is as important as the medicine given through the mouth!” Fear is abnormal to the human system and those who think that fear is a natural thing to be put up with and tolerated, remember this final scripture about fear in the Bible: Rev. 21:8 says that the fearful shall not inherit the kingdom of heaven. 1 John 4: 18 assures, “there is no fear in love: perfect love casteth out fear”. Make yourself secure in the immeasurable love that God has for you, fear will depart and you will be healed. A person that is entertaining fear is obviously not dwelling in the love of God.
•
Looking to men rather than to Calvary Jeremiah 17:5 says, “Thus saith the Lord; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the Lord.” How many of Gods’ children depend on medical science! Medical science though a gift from God has taken the place of the Word of God. Now, no Christian will admit it. But think of how much time is spent in the doctor’s office and how much time is spent in the prayer closet. How much of the lab reports are memorized and how much of healing scriptures are stored in the heart? How much of conversation with friends is about sickness and how little is about the healing aspects of the power of God. How much money is spent on God’s work and how much money is spent budgeting for sickness and medical insurance! Many will never break an appointment with their doctor but will think nothing about missing a church service. Many have more respect for the specialist than for their beloved pastor! Without a shadow of doubt, in many a Christian home, the Word of the Almighty God has been replaced by the reports of medical science. God knows it. Admit it, repent of it and realize that Jesus is the Great Physician, the Doctor of all doctors, yea, the Death Destroyer! Blessed be the Lord! Just recently while ministering healing to some, the Lord said, that His people were rejecting Him. I asked the Lord to explain how His people were rejecting Him. Now, we are aware that there are common scriptures that speak of God’s people rejecting Him. But the Lord was talking of active Christians. This is how the Lord explained it. When His people reject Him as Jehovah Rapha, as the God that Healeth us, as the Balm of Gilead, as the Great Physician, then we are rejecting Him. To reject One Aspect of Him is to reject Him. He is a possessive, Jealous God and will not share us with the world. We praise Him for being Jehovah Jireh - our Provider. We are relaxed to know Him as Jehovah Roi - our Shepherd, and so on with the other attributes of God revealed to us. But when it comes to Exodus 15:26 where it is written that He is Jehovah Rapha - the Lord that healeth us, many hold back and find it hard to believe. So you see how unconsciously, many of God’s people are pushing away the blessed Savior? God has His way of healing Use it. Combine it with medical science if you want. But stop putting medical science first. Take it off from its pedestal in your life and magnify Jehovah Rapha. If your faith is placed on the medical skills and healing prowess of men and not on the healing power of God or if your faith is not in any way close to Jesus, His life and redemptive work on Calvary, it will be virtually impossible to get your healing from God. Honour God, by trusting first in Him, then use the services of men. Give God the glory or the credit and the acknowledgement that is due to Him as the Creator of the human body, and He will heal you.
•
Depending on men who draw attention to their ministry Ministers of God are only the channels that God uses to heal people. As a scalpel is a precise instrument in the hands of a skillful doctor, so is a minister of God. It is God Himself, who is the source of healing power. Therefore, do not exalt any servant of God or his healing ministry above God. Heb 12:2 exhorts, “…looking unto Jesus the author and the finisher of our faith…”. Looking not unto Jesus, but unto a minister of God for
healing will prevent God from healing you. We must have confidence in the ministers of God and in the gifts that He has given them. We must give the ministers their due honour and regard. But remember that it was Jesus who went through hell to redeem you unto Himself. There are ministers who often tempt people to put their confidence in their ministries. When a minister says something like this, “Send us your prayer request! We will pray and God will heal you, God answers all prayers from this place!”, the glory that is due to the awesome sacrifice of God is being diverted to the works of ministers. Now, for the minister to be on his knees in prayer and make bold statements is real hard work. But no human work, effort or sacrifice can be compared to Calvary. He was and is the Lamb of God and no one can take that place. The healing ministry is one of the hardest in the Body of Christ and so such must be counted worthy of the honor and respect that it is due. But we should be careful not to exalt the minister and rob the glory due to God. We should be able to discern whether that ministry has a genuine concern about the welfare of the sick and is drawing attention to the healing power of God, or it is self propagation and everything is said and done in it’s own interest and growth On one occasion, during a School of Divine Healing, the following prophecy was given which brought the fear of God on all present. “If one comes and talks about his ministry, him you will listen to; but if one comes to build you up, him you will not receive!” Many of God’s children do not like to be corrected. Many presume that they know everything or that the minister cannot teach them. Many do not like to grow and mature in Christ. Many do not like to fulfill God’s plan for them in the Church and the world. God in His mercy has overlooked many of His children’s faults; but He is also interested in the spiritual growth of His children. So, the time has come when God’s children have to turn their hearts fully to their Father. The true motive of a minister must be to turn your heart to your Redeemer and your Father, to perfect the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the Body of Christ. •
Un-confessed Sin If there is any sin in your life, God cannot heal you. Psalm 66:18 says, “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me.” God works by certain principles and His own law bind God from healing those who stubbornly refuse to repent of their sins. Repent and confess your sins and the healing power of God will be released to you. Many stubborn illnesses that do not go despite being prayed for by the most devout servants of God indicate an inward stubbornness and rebellion against the revealed will of God. The poor sick one is actually persisting in a sinful way of living. Some sins are open, some secret and some that are not known for a long time. Remember that before Adam’s deliberate disobedience, there was no sickness. God is not withholding anything. When He did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up to undergo such torment, will He not freely give all things that the Atonement purchased? God is trying every way He can to work His power into our lives, but it is our dullness of hearing, deceitfulness of heart and stubborn self will that hinder His blessed power from working in our bodies.
1 John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness”. Bless God who is merciful! •
Returning demons Some are completely healed and delivered of sickness, but the disease returns after an interval of time. Why is this so? Jesus explained, in Math 12 : 43 - 45, “When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none. Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished. Then goeth he and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation.” Evil spirits require a human body to give full expression of their evil nature. A person cannot exist in a spiritual vacuum. Once devils are cast out of a person, he must be filled with the Holy Spirit to prevent the devils from repossessing the person. Sickness is caused by germs or viruses, which are evil spirits. So once healed of sickness, submit to God and be filled with His Spirit. Then the returning demons of sickness cannot attack you.
•
Improper speech of the minister The minister of Christ, is an ambassador, a representative of the King and should conduct himself as such. Sometimes the surgeon’s scalpel becomes rusty!. The Bible has so much to teach about our speech. To put it all briefly, the tongue is like the steering wheel of our life (please read the book of Proverbs and James 3 carefully). Yet we do very little about correcting our speech. Often, even ministers of God are also guilty of improper speech. A minister can lose his ability to minister effectively through a loose tongue. A minister, more so than any one else, should speak as of the Oracles of God, for he is entrusted with them (see 1 Peter 4:11). Over and over again, we have watched as young or unskilled ministers pray wonderful prayers of faith and blessing and then during a time of fellowship which follows, speak idle words, coarse words. Some ministers are of the view that they can say fantastic prayers and then conduct themselves as they please. They think that once their spiritual work is over, they can be someone else! They have forgotten that they are specific instruments in the hands of God and very high standards are expected of them.
•
Not being filled with the Holy Spirit God has given us the Holy Spirit so that we may be filled with the Spirit at all times. Eph 5:18 exhorts us, “and be not drunk with wine…., but be filled with the spirit.” Being filled with the spirit is not a one-time occurrence. It is a continuous stirring up and working of the Holy Spirit so that He flows through the affairs of your life, like water flowing uninterruptedly through a channel. Jesus described this in John 7: 38, 39 saying, “He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should
receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified)." Instead of being filled with the Spirit, if a person has - Grieved the Spirit (Eph. 4:30) - Quenched the Spirit (1 Thes. 5:19) - Neglected the Spirit (1 Tim. 4:14) - Vexed the Spirit (Isa. 63:10) - Resisted the Spirit (Acts 7:51) or - Tempted the Spirit (Acts 5:9) Then that person will not be healed. Why does God want us to be filled with the Spirit at all times? Our soul is like a vacuum. It must be filled and not left as a vacuum. If it is left as a vacuum, it will suck in anything that is passing over it. It will get filled with the things of the world. God has warned us in His Word, 1 John 2:15 - “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” Again we are warned in, James 4:4 - “Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.” God’s purpose is to separate you unto Himself. His will for you is good and the best. Letting go of the things of this world that hinder our healing is no sacrifice. God has many better things in store for us. Many are afraid that if they are filled with the Spirit then they cannot enjoy life or do their own thing. Repent and ask God to fill you with His Spirit again and healing will be yours. •
Backsliding A person who has turned away from following the Lord, to follow his own ways, cannot expect to be healed by the Lord, in times of sickness. There are three kinds of Christians – Cold Christians, Lukewarm Christians and Hot Christians! Which kind are you, O sick one? Lukewarmness and backsliding are cousins. But there is hope for the backslidden. God calling out to backsliding Israel, tells them that He is married to them, though they have backslidden (Jer. 3:11-16). Romans 7:4 tells us that we are married to Christ. God expects a higher standard of the believer for unto whom much is given, much is expected.(See Luke 12:48) Keep the fire and the light burning in your soul and their will be no room for lukewarmness and backsliding. God is gracious to the backslider who repents and will heal him.
•
Ignoring Warnings If we repeatedly ignore God’s voice warning us, how can we expect God to hear us, the very first time we pray? God, clearly warns us in the scriptures, that if we willfully ignore Him, He will not hear our prayers, in our times of need. Zech. 7:11, 13 says, “But they refused to hearken, and pulled away the shoulder, and stopped their ears, that they should not hear……. Therefore it is come to pass, that as he cried, and they would not hear; so they cried, and I would not hear, saith the Lord of hosts”
Your pastor and minister is not a soothsayer. If you are in the place that God wants you to be, you can be sure that God’s warning light goes on the moment you begin to step out of line. But how often have sick ones ignored the warning pleas of His servants! How often, as a Christian, you have refused to be in the place that God wants you in? Disobedience is rebellion, which is like the sin of witchcraft. If God has been warning you concerning anything, take heed and repent. Only then can God heal you. •
Pride Pride hinders divine healing. James 4:6 says, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble”. God’s grace and healing are available only to the humble. The proud in heart refuse to bow in humility before God the healer, nor will they submit to the divine order of healing – calling for the elders of the church, repentance and confession of sins, laying on of hands, etc. The proud even in the grip of deadly sickness will reject the ways of God. When Namaan, the Syrian, came to Elisha for healing, he was infuriated that the prophet did not receive him with honor, but only told him to wash seven times in the Jordan. His pride hurt, he would have returned to Syria, but better counsel prevailed and obeying the prophet’s words healed him (2 Kings 5: 9-14). Even today, the ‘pride of life,’ (1 John 2:16) that rejoices in wealth, education, social standing, even high positions in the church, is preventing people from humbling themselves before God for their healing. Pride is of the devil. It is Lucifer’s chief characteristic and strongest weapon. Repent and humble yourself before God and His grace is sufficient to heal you.
•
Not being connected to the right place It is important that a person is in the right place of fellowship. John 4:23 says,”…. True worshippers will worship the father in spirit and in truth.” The first place to worship is in spirit, i.e. in your own heart. We worship God in spirit when our spirits are bowed down before God, when we submit our will to His and acknowledge Him as Lord of our lives and go about the business of fulfilling His will. Then ask God to lead you to the right place of fellowship and He will. If you are in a place where the doctrine of divine healing is avoided or not preached with authority, remember that the laws of association will be at work. Your faith will suffer due to the atmosphere of doubt that prevails in such a place and your healing will be hindered. With God’s guidance, find a place of fellowship that believes and practices divine healing and the other fundamental truths of the gospel of Christ, as found in Hebrews 6: 1, 2, and you will be healed. General Observation A practical reason why some people are not healed is that, the people looking after the sick prefer that they should depart, either to relieve their loved ones from further suffering or out of some ulterior motives. This creates an atmosphere of sin and unbelief that grieves God and prevents Him from healing the person.
Reasons for Healing Today Reasons for expecting and receiving, healing from God today.
 His very Name is Healer Under the new covenant (in the New Testament), God reveals Himself fully through His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. In the Old Testament too, we have some mighty and majestic revelations of the nature of God. One of the ways that God revealed Himself in the Old Testament was by declaring who He is. He gave a name to one of his attributes and attached that name to Himself. For example, we are all too familiar that the Lord is our Shepherd from that great Shepherd's psalm, Psalm 23. However, in the original rendering of Psalm 23:1, we see God declaring Himself to be Jehovah Roi -The Lord our Shepherd. Similarly, let us see some other names by which God has revealed Himself to His people for the purpose of guiding and blessing them. He is Jehovah Shammah , The Lord who is Ever Present in Ezekiel.48:35 Jehovah Jireh,The Lord our Provider in Genesis 22:14 Jehovah Nissi, The Lord our Banner in Exodus 17:15 Jehovah Shalom, The Lord our Peace in Judges 6:24 Jehovah Roi, The Lord our Shepherd in Psalm 23:1 Jehovah Tsidkenu, The Lord our Righteousness in Jeremiah 23: 5,6 Jehovah Makadesh, The Lord our Sanctifier in Leviticus 21:8 Jehovah Rapha, The Lord our Healer in Exodus 15:26 Let us learn to partake of all his attributes as revealed in His Holy Name and not partake of Him in bits and pieces. If He is our Ever Present One, if He is our Provider, our Banner of Victory, our Peace, if He is our Righteousness and our Shepherd and if He is the One who Sanctifies us, then bless His Holy
Name, HE IS ALSO THE ONE WHO HEALS US! Thus, divine healing is ours today, because our God has told us that he is Jehovah Rapha, the God who heals us.
Healing was manifested in the Old Testament God healed sickness and forgave sins in the Old Testament too. He constantly kept reminding Israel of who He was to them. He kept reminding them of their covenant blessings which they could have if they kept His word. Ponder these great verses from the Old Testament. Let your mind dwell on them for a few days. Exodus 15:26.... I am the LORD that healeth thee. Psalms 103:3 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; Psalms 91:10 There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. Psalms 105:37 He brought them forth also with silver and gold: and there was not one feeble person among their tribes. So now, under a better covenant, can we expect anything less? No, under the glorious New Testament, we have much more confidence for Divine Healing, since we have an open and bold access to God’s riches of grace by faith in His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Jesus was manifested to destroy the works of the devil We know that sickness is an oppression and a bondage, the work of the evil one. Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil. I John 3:8 "...... For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.". Yes He came to destroy sin and everything that was left in its wake! During His life on this earth, He systematically overcame every enemy of man and finally even death, the last enemy of man. In Luke 4:18 Jesus said, "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised." He did that exactly and literally. Jesus has done what He came to do. He did nothing outside the will of His heavenly Father (John 5:30,) Has His ministry changed today? A thousand times no! He continues to carry on His ministry in its totality and so, bless God, we have every reason to expect and receive healing today.
Healing is the Children’s Bread In the portion of Scripture from Mark 7: 25 - 30, Jesus heals the daughter of a Syrophenician woman. But he also tells her that healing is first the children’s bread or primarily the prerogative of those under the covenant of God.
We have Jesus’ word for it. If we are God’s children, healing is our portion at our Father’s table
Healing is the Will of Jesus In Matthew 8: 2,3, a leper comes to Jesus for healing. He knows that Jesus can heal him, but he has a doubt whether Jesus would heal him. This is the same doubt that many are faced with today. He tells Jesus, "If you want you can make me well." Jesus reply to this leper leaves no room for doubt concerning the will of Jesus to heal. Jesus tells him,"I will (I want to).Be clean": and immediately his leprosy left him. This is a beautiful reason, why we can expect to be healed by our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.
Healing is a great witness Miracles of Divine Healing are a great witness to the presence and love of God in this world. In Mark 5:1 - 20, in the account of the healing of the mad man of Gadarea, we see how the healed man was a powerful testimony about Jesus to many (Mark 5:20). Often, healings are a tremendous testimony and draws people to God. The world does not know God as a God of love and compassion who is touched by our grief's, sorrows, sins and sickness and all our infirmities. God does not do miracles to prove anything. He is God and has no obligations to prove anything to His creation. He heals simply because of His love. Ask a man with some experience in the missions field and he will tell you examples of how healings have attracted crowds who can then hear the glorious gospel. This is a reason why we can expect divine healing today.
Because of numerous promises The Bible is full of promises by God, to answer our prayers. These promises are God’s provisions, by which we have to access His grace. In John chapters 14, 15 & 16, Jesus urges us repeatedly to ask and receive (take). In Matthew 18:19, Jesus exhorts His disciples saying, "Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven." God has promised to hear the cry of the righteous and the humble and He has given us exceeding great and precious promises by which we can receive the life of God freely. The simple promises of God alone is enough reason to expect divine healing today.
Dominion is restored Divine Healing restores to us the dominion that Adam forfeited to the devil. Even the weakest Christian has been given all power over the evil one. In Luke 10:19 we read, "Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you." Healings attack, subdue and destroy the kingdom of satan. Through divine healing, we assert our dominion over the evil one that Adam lost because of disobedience.
Healing is the sign of the Messiah Isaiah prophesied that when the Messiah would come, these signs will accompany Him - the blind will see, the deaf hear, the lame walk and the dumb speak (Isaiah 35: 4-6). When Jesus came this prophecy was fulfilled (John 11: 2,3). Let us see how and when this prophecy was fulfilled. John had introduced Jesus as the Lamb of God that taketh away the sins of the world. But when he is alone and shut up in prison, he has doubts and sends his friends to ask Jesus if He was indeed the awaited Messiah. Jesus could have told the disciples of John to go and ask John to recall the baptism service at the river Jordan or the voice that thundered from heaven. But at that time, prophecy was being fulfilled by the ministry of Jesus and so the Lord simply tells John’s friends to go and tell John what they see and hear. When John sent his disciples to ask Jesus if he was indeed the awaited Messiah, Jesus just points to the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy. Luke 7:22 "Then Jesus answering said unto them, Go your way, and tell John what things ye have seen and heard; how that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the gospel is preached." Divine Healing is the expected sign of our Messiah Jesus.
His great compassion and love God hates to see you suffering. Why, even we have a tendency to help any one who is sick in every way that we can. His heart of compassion is moved greatly when you suffer.This is revealed in the life and ministry of our Lord. How does God look on sick people ? Matthew 9: 35,36 "And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd." Matthew 14: 14 "And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick." Matthew 20:34 "So Jesus had compassion on them, and touched their eyes: and immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed him." Make no mistake about this friend. Jesus does not rejoice over you sickness. When we hurt, He
hurts, because are we not part of His Body on the earth today? God’s love for us is the primary reason for expecting and receiving healing today.
Healing is the Judgment of God on sickness Please read these portions of scripture before you go any further : Mathew 12: 18-21, Isaiah 42: 1-4. Activity in the realm of the spirit has physical manifestations. Let us see how and what is the kind of justice that brings victory that causes gentiles to trust in the name of Jesus for salvation. Matthew 12 : 18 Behold my servant, whom I have chosen; my beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased: I will put my spirit upon him, and he shall shew judgment to the Gentiles. 19 He shall not strive, nor cry; neither shall any man hear his voice in the streets. 20 A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he send forth judgment unto victory. 21 And in his name shall the Gentiles trust. The above text is a fulfillment of Isaiah 42: 1-4. Isaiah 42 : 1 Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles. 2 He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street. 3 A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth judgment unto truth. 4 He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth: and the isles shall wait for his law. Please look at the events leading to this fulfillment. Let us go back to Matthew 12. In v.13, Jesus heals a man with a withered hand on the Sabbath day. The Pharisees then plan to eliminate Him. Jesus knowing this withdrew Himself from that place and great multitudes followed Him. Jesus healed them all. The Lord then charges the people who were healed not to make Him known. At this stage of His ministry, Jesus did not want publicity among His own people, the Jews. Thus the prophecy of Isaiah 42: 1-4 was fulfilled. Let us take a closer look at Mathew 12: 15-22 in sequential order to see fulfillment of Isaiah 42. The prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled after great healings, and Jesus request to keep the news from spreading. The prophecy has been fulfilled because judgement has been shown to the Gentiles (v.15-18) by mass healings. The Gentiles were getting a taste of God’s love. Truth was being revealed that God loved them. Judgement of satan, as the deceiver, the cause of sin and sickness was being revealed.
The prophecy was fulfilled because Jesus did not strive or cry, and neither did any man hear His voice on the streets (v.19). This act was also at only one stage of His work. He did not break the frailest sign of faith neither did He quench a spark of faith TILL victory was got by judgement. But, He often rebuked His disciples for their lack of active faith. This victory caused the Gentiles to trust in Him as the Savior (v.21). This fulfilled prophecy again causes a blind and dumb man to be brought to Him for healing. (v.22). The connection between healing and the goodness for the soul is thus clear. Healing is the judgement of God on sickness and diseases. This judgement brings victory that causes even the gentiles to trust in Him. Oh! Bless the Lord all ye nations of the world. God has good reason to bring healing to you!  Healings bind the strongman Divine healings bind the strongman or the principalities and powers that control a geographical region. The deliverance of a man from demons of blindness and dumbness in Matt. 12:22, causes such amazement that the Pharisees to protect their prestigious positions declare that this miracle is done by the power of the prince of devils. Satan causes lying signs and wonders (2 Thes. 2:9). But oh! be careful in distinguishing between the works of God and the works of the devil! The reply of the Lord silences His critics. Our interest is now in casting out devils binding the strongman the kingdom of God blasphemy Jesus said that He cast out devils by the Spirit of God (see also Luke 4: 18,19 & Acts 10:38). He said this after the blind and dumb devils had been cast out. He said that this casting out of devils brought the kingdom of God to them. How can a man see the kingdom of God until the strong evil power that blinds and binds him be cast out (v.28)? Those extending the good kingdom of God, which is righteousness peace, joy and love, invariably find themselves opposed by demons of darkness and strange yet powerful evil forces. Spiritual warfare interests and involves every child of God. This spiritual warfare is in every city, town and village in the world. The kingdom of God is revealed and offered to the people to receive when the strong man is bound (v. 28,29). This is the only place in the scripture where the phrase "Bind the strong man" is used! Is it not noteworthy and enlightening to know, that this phrase was used by Jesus, in the context of healing? The strong man is bound when devils are cast out and the sick healed. There cannot be any talk about binding the strong man without the casting out of devils and the healing of the sick. Bear in mind that death is an enemy of man and all sickness is incipient death. The Holy Spirit guides us into truth. By the power of the Holy Ghost mighty works of God are done. Jesus said that all sins, blasphemies and words against Himself would be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Ghost shall never be forgiven in this world or the next. (v.31,32). What an awful warning! How sacred, holy and precious must be the Spirit of God! Woe to the man who blasphemies the Holy Ghost. What a caution to the man, woman or child who has
the Holy Spirit. We can surely expect healing today as it extends the kingdom of God.
 The New Doctrine of Authority: Mark 1: 21- 32 The people were astonished at the doctrines or teachings of Jesus, for it was not as that of the scribes which lacked authority (v22). Jesus taught as a man of authority. Demons trembled and screamed in His presence. Recognizing His authority, demons fled when rebuked by the Master. The people wondered and discussed among themselves this new doctrine - the doctrine of authority and power over evil spirits (v27). Yes! The acts of God will cause men to think about Him. This gives an opening for the Word of God to be received. Immediately His fame spread through all the region round about Galilee (v.28). The result of this was the city was gathered at His door and mass healings again (v.32, 33). Oh! the blessed doctrine of authority! Bless God who forgives all our sins and heals all diseases. Be encouraged oh sick and diseased for the Great Physician with all authority is not sleeping. Look up to Him this very hour, and taste of His good power.
 Because of the Atonement We can expect healing because it has been purchased for us on Calvary. Isaiah 53 4 Surely he hath borne our grief's, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. Again in 1 Peter 2:24 "Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed." We read also in Galatians 3:13, "Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree." Divine Healing is part of the great Atonement of Jesus Christ. Let us bless God and not forget all His benefits!
Some Methods of Receiving Healing God can heal through natural and supernatural means. The supernatural and the natural belong to God. God is the Creator and satan the Perverter. NATURAL MEANS OF HEALING Some of the natural means of receiving healing are by • • • •
Rest Proper diet Proper work Medication The natural means of healing also belong to God. God can heal through natural means also. We will not go into detail about the natural methods of healing. Only a word about medication – Be careful of the kind of doctors you visit. Pray about it first. Gain some knowledge about the medication and the side effects. Then pray about the medication too. If you have any doubts about the medication, talk to your doctor frankly. Any truly God fearing doctor will answer your honest questions about prescriptions. If you feel a check in your spirit about the doctor, do not hesitate to change doctors. Remember that your ultimate trust is in the Great Physician. Know that the pharmaceutical industry is among the top 10 industries in the world and that the primary purpose of pharmaceutical companies is to make money! It has come to our knowledge that at least one pharmaceutical company in our city passes their product through an occult ritual before it is released into the market. SUPERNATURAL MEANS OF HEALING
•
Calling for the elders of the church The sick person (and not his family as far as possible), should call for the elders of the church to come and pray the prayer of faith over him or her, and anoint with oil in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.
.James 5:14,15 - “Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.” This should be the first step taken, in case of a sickness. So ensure that you are attached to a church whose elders know to pray the prayer of faith. The prayer of faith does not use the word “if”. Praying with the faith that it is the will of God to heal is the prayer of faith. Then prayerfully include natural methods if you have to. The prayer of faith will save the sick. Be assured that the word “save” is referring to the physical body. The word used here is “sozo” – the same word that Jesus used when He healed the sick in Matthew 9:22, Mark 6:56, Mark 10:52, Luke 8:48, Luke 17:19. •
Confession of faults one to another James 5:16 exhorts, “confess your faults one to another and pray for one another that ye may be healed”. Presence of unconfessed sins can hinder divine healing. A sick person is commanded to confess the sins of which he is convicted, to his brothers in Christ and pray with them. Then the sick person will be healed. Remember that we are all members one of another. It must be mentioned here, that some have misused this principle to manipulate sick people. Be careful of whom you confess your sins to. Generally, we are to confess our faults to the one who is spiritually above us.
•
Speaking to the disease Jesus spoke to the fig tree and it withered. Jesus spoke to the wind and the waves, and they ceased. Jesus promises us, that if we speak to our mountain in His Name, the mountain will be removed (Mark 11:22-26). God’s Word is true and has not lost its power, only God’s people have lost the power of divine speech. Therefore, trusting the promise, let us be bold in faith and speak to the disease. When an illness takes on the magnitude of a mountain, believers must learn to speak to it. The sound of our voices has an effect in the spirit world. Command the disease to leave your body or that of your loved one in the Name of Jesus, and it will depart.
•
Prayer of agreement Matthew 18:19 says, “. . . If two of you shall agree on earth concerning anything, that they ask, it shall be done for them . . .”. Agreement does not mean mere mental assent. The two should desire the same thing with all their hearts. Now coming into such an agreement might take some time. It would be good to be well connected in your local assembly so that the persons with whom you are truly connected in the spirit will be quick to respond and get into such an agreement. The prayer of agreement is not simply using the words, “I agree with so and so”. It is knitting or yoking together in prayer. When two pray with such a heartfelt desire for healing, that prayer of agreement will heal the sick. Jesus said that in the prayer of agreement we can ask for anything and that includes healing.
•
Laying on of hands Jesus has promised healing through the laying on of hands to every believer who goes in His Name. Mark 16:18 says, “... they shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover”. Hebrews 6:1, 2 says that healing by the laying on of hands is one of the fundamental principles of Christ. Claiming healing through the laying on of hands requires a person to exercise his faith. If a believer will have an unwavering faith in the power and promises of Christ, and lay hands on the sick in the name of Jesus, the sick will be healed.
•
By the Gifts of Healing Unlike healing through the laying on of hands, the gifts of healing are not manifested through all. The gifts of healing are given to some, according to the will of the Holy Spirit, for the benefit of all (I Cor.12:7,9). Gifts of healing do not require the laying on of hands. The person who uses the gifts of healing can say the word of healing even from a distance and the sick will recover. Please note that it is not gift (singular), but gifts (plural) of healing. This is a reminder to the minister of healing that the manifestations or the gifts of healing are for the sick one!
•
Claiming Promises The scriptures are filled with God’s promises. For example, in John’s gospel, chapters 14-16, where Jesus’ last discourse with his disciples before his crucifixion is recorded, we find some fantastic promises that many would be afraid to handle! Find a promise and pray claiming it. Think of these great promises. Are these words of your Lord Jesus Christ for you? Then act on it!
• • • •
John 14: 13, 14 - And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it." John 15:7 – If ye abide in My Words, and Me abide in you, you shall ask what you will and it shall be done unto you. John 14:13,14 - And whatsoever you shall ask in My Name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask anything in My Name, I will do it. John 16:23 – Verily, verily, I say unto you, whatsoever you shall ask in My Name, He will give it to you. Similarly these promises can include divine healing. Equip yourself with these promises and pray claiming them and God will grant your request. Know also that by the exceeding great and precious promises, we are partakers of the divine nature (2 Peter 1:4).
•
Right Confession A right confession is important for healing. Our confession or what we say, is an indicator of what we believe, of what is really in our heart. Confession is not an appropriate set of words that we turn on just mentally. It is not a religious or even spiritual ritual Confession is based on faith. Faith comes from a Person (Heb 12:2), His Words (Romans 10:17) and from His Works.(John 10:38, John 14:11). True and perfect confession cannot be separated from the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ. If you want a confession that brings possession, then fill your heart and mind with Jesus, His words and His works. Allow some quality time frequently for this great exercise and see the simplicity of faith at work.
Faith has to be in two places – your heart and in your mouth (see Deuteronomy 30:14). Romans 10:9,10 says, “That if thou shall confess with Thy mouth the Lord Jesus and shall believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shall be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness and with the mouth, confession is made unto salvation.” The word salvation, in the above verse, comes from the all-inclusive Greek word “sozo”, which implies a deliverance from all things that hinder a person from receiving all the benefits of redemption. Yes, forget not all His benefits! Blessed be the Lord! When you believe the written Word of God in your heart and confess it with your mouth, it becomes the living Word of God, the Sword of the Spirit, which defeats the devil. Proverbs 18:21 says, “Life and death are in the power of the tongue”. The Word of God spoken in faith will save us from our infirmities. However, words of unbelief will accomplish the reverse. So be very careful to always make the right confession to receive God’s healing. •
Holy Communion I Corinthians 1:18 says, “The preaching of the Cross, (the broken Body and the Blood of Jesus) is the power of God to them that believe.” Every time, we partake of communion we are drawn closer to the Cross, where the Body of Christ was broken for our healing and His Blood shed for the destruction of our sins. So, partake of the communion, as often as possible, in a fitting manner. Do not take it perfunctorily or as a ritual or a duty. In the cross is total victory!
•
Joy Nehemiah 8:10 says, “The joy of the Lord is your strength.” So be joyful and rejoice in the Lord. Jesus was the most joyful person (Heb.1:9) though he knew the Cross was before Him and He would become the Man of Sorrows. Let us follow His example and our strength will be restored. Proverbs 17:22 says, “A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.” Doctors have a term for drying bones – bone marrow depression! Philippians 4:4 says, “Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.” The fruit of the Spirit is joy. No matter what our condition, if we turn our eyes on Jesus, hope will rise; peace will follow accompanied by joy. Check your level of joy! Low joy levels reduce health increasing the potential for illness. Great joy virtually eliminates sickness. The importance of joy in a Christian’s life is being emphasized by the Lord especially in these days. Congregations all over the world, even in once oppressed countries like Russia, are experiencing a supernatural outburst of joy in the Holy Ghost. A lady in a meeting had not smiled for 10 years since the death of her husband. Her head was always bent down. She sat under the ministry of the Word of God for 5 days. On the last day, the Holy Spirit was able to break through into her spirit and lift her up from depression. For the first time in 10 years, she began to smile, rejoice and laugh in the comfort of the Holy Ghost!
•
Being under the Ministry of the Word The Word of God is able to heal. Psalm 107:20 says, “He sent His Word and healed them and delivered them from all their destruction’s.” Paying diligent heed to the Word of God is health to all flesh (Proverbs 4:20 – 22). “For they (the Word of God) are life unto those that find them and health to all the flesh.” (V.22) So, make sure that you are in a Church where you are fed the Word of God regularly, and incline your heart to obey it. We are living in an age where many shun preaching and teaching. The renewal of lively praise and intimate worship has done wonders for the Church. But in some areas, it has tended to push the Word of God aside. Men of strength and authority are men strong in the Word of God. Remember that it is first the Word of God and then the manifestations of the Spirit. Don’t reverse that divine order.
•
Praise and Singing In singing and praise, there is strength. Psalm 8:2 says, “Out of the mouth of babes and suckling, hast Thou ordained strength . . .”. Jesus quoting this verse in Matthew 21:16 said it like this, “Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise!” This tells us that PRAISE IS STRENGTH! Psalms 50:23 says, “Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me: and to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I shew the salvation (or deliverance) of God.” The singing of the psalms and the scriptures gives great comfort and strength. Have a songbook near you at all times and sing to the Lord. It will strengthen and heal you. Praising and singing is one form of praying that will never go in vain.
•
Other Anointed Means of Divine Healing A woman with a blood issue touched the hem of Jesus garment and she was instantly made whole (Mark 5: 25 - 34). The healing power of the Messiah flowed from His body on to His garments! Special miracles were wrought by the hands of Paul so that handkerchiefs and aprons taken from his body brought healing and deliverance when they were laid on the sick and demon possessed (Acts 19:12).
We must remember that God is Sovereign and that He heals in a Sovereign manner too.
Some difficult Old Testament Scriptures The scriptures are God’s means of revealing Himself to us. From the Scriptures, we gain insights into the character of God, that it is His nature - to heal and not to afflict with sickness, to save and not to destroy men’s lives, to do good to us and not evil. But there are certain verses in the Old Testament, which do not seem to be consistent with this understanding of God’s nature. Some of these verses are: Isaiah 45: 7 - “ . . . . I, the Lord, create evil” Exodus 4: 11 - “ who maketh the dumb or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? Have not I, the Lord?” We have to keep in mind that God is Love. This we know is the highest revelation of God. In the beginning, when God created the earth, He made all things good (Gen.1:31). There was nothing evil on the face of the earth. It was Adam, by disobeying God, permitted evil to enter the world. Therefore, in these above verses, God as the Creator, is taking responsibility for all evil, as a father takes responsibility for the misdoings of his children. In Job 2:7, we see that satan “smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown.” Yet, God takes the direct responsibility for this evil work - “….thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause” (Job 2 : 3). How many parents have had to go to the schools of their children and give an assurance to the authorities about the behavior or performance of their children? How many fathers and mothers have stood before juvenile courts and accepted the faults of a wayward child? Are there not many noble and loving parents who would readily take the punishment that civil authorities impose on their children? Did not Jesus Christ come and die on our behalf? Do not read any Old Testament Scripture in isolation. Always compare it with the New Testament. For, it was in the Life and Person of Jesus, that God revealed Himself fully to mankind. Jesus was “the express image of God”. (Heb1:3). Jesus Himself said, “He that hath seen Me hath seen the Father” (John 14:9). When healing the lame man at the pool of Bethesda, Jesus said that He did the works of His Father. John 5:17 - “But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto and I work.” Therefore, through the life of Jesus, it is revealed, that the will of the Father is to heal and not to afflict with sickness.
Read every Old Testament Scripture in the light of the New Testament. The Old Testament and the New Testament are like the two sets of lenses in a pair of binoculars. The larger lenses represent the Old Testament and the smaller the New Testament. If we look at an object through the bigger lenses, it would appear to be very far away. If we look at the object through the smaller lenses, the object would appear closer. Similarly, if we look at healing through the Old Testament, it would appear very far away with many difficulties. But, if we look at divine healing through the life, ministry, death, resurrection, commission and ascension of our Lord, then, healing would appear very close to us.
Healing in the light of the Law and Judgment In this chapter, we will limit our observations for the following reasons •
The Law and Judgment are vast studies in themselves.
•
Some secret things belong to God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children. (Deuteronomy 29:29, 1 Corinthians 13:12)
•
Healing as revealed in the life and ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ is our goal.
•
The Mysteries of God will be finished only when the seventh angel begins to sound (Rev. 10:7.)
•
We are living in the days of grace though we have a precursor of end time judgments.
•
We can now hope and rejoice in the mercy that is greater than judgment. (James 2:13)
When we come across scriptures that link God with destruction, there is a tendency to discontinue our pursuit for divine healing. We need not lose heart, if our heart is right with God for the highest and unchangeable revelation of God is – GOD IS LOVE. God the Creator is Holy. He is also the Supreme Judge of the Universe. Therefore, Eternal Judgment is a fundamental doctrine of Christ (Hebrews 6:1, 2 ) God gave the commandment, “Thou shalt not kill” (Exodus 20:13) A more accurate rendering would be “Thou shalt not slay or murder” Now, by no stretch of imagination, would even a heathen, call God a Killer or a Murderer. The One who makes a law is also responsible for Justice. Skeptics and flippant readers of the Scriptures generally do not try to feel the heart of God, the mind of Christ. But a diligent reader will discern that God as the lawgiver first warns us about the consequences of breaking His commandments or going against His Word. Remember that when a person rebels and steps out of the will of God, he is firstly a prey for the devil, our adversary who goes about as a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. Remember also the words of Jesus when he said that He had
come to give abundant life and not to destroy life. When an accident occurs on the road, we cannot blame the Chief of Police. An accident occurs whenever a person breaks the laid down traffic laws. God as the lawgiver is also responsible for justice being meted out. Many would laugh at this. But bear in mind that God is merciful and His judgments are usually slow but sure. Where there is a law, there must be a judgment for breaking it, a judge to pronounce the sentence and a means of carrying out the required punishment. We must also bear in mind that God is Holy and the Bible talks of His wrath very frequently. God is God and man is only man, made from the dust of the ground. In the Bible we usually see God connected to destruction, either in the defense of His own people or as the dispenser of justice without partiality. •
In the Old Testament we see sickness, disease and death as a direct consequence of disobedience. Deuteronomy Chapter 28 verse15 onwards, describes the curses or consequences for breaking the laws of God.
•
In Jeremiah 29:32 we read about God’s judgment for teaching rebellion against the Lord. “Therefore thus saith the LORD; Behold, I will punish Shemaiah the Nehelamite, and his seed: he shall not have a man to dwell among this people; neither shall he behold the good that I will do for my people, saith the LORD; because he hath taught rebellion against the LORD.” The Bible warns that God will judge fallen angels, nations, the believers and even Israel for centuries of rebellion. God in His Word has warned in many places and times about His numerous judgments.
•
In Matt. 12:31 we read about the terrible judgment of those who blaspheme the Holy Ghost – No Forgiveness! “Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men.”
•
In Acts 5, we read of the terrible punishment on Ananias and Sapphira for lying to the Spirit of God at a time when the foundations of the Church was being laid with such power and godly fear.
•
In Acts 13: 8-12 we read about the judgment of God for resisting the work of God. This is a prototype of the coming apocalyptic judgments. “And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a season. And immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness; and he went about seeking some to lead him by the hand.” Even in our present day, many ministers will be able to give accounts of the judgments of God that they have seen in their lifetime. When the days of grace are over, then the judgements of God will again begin as seen in the Book of Revelations. As far as your healing is concerned, if you have resisted the work of God or been a party in rebelling against the commandments of God, confess your sin, leave it, and expect the mercy of God.
The Healing Ministry of Jesus There is a longing in every heart for a miracle. Man though born in sin was nevertheless first made in the image and likeness of God. Man is a spirit with a soul and a body. God often touches the body before touching the spirit of man. Jesus revealed the heart of the Father. The healing of the body has an impact on the spirit of man. Remember these points briefly, • • •
Matthew 4: 23,24 - The healing ministry of Jesus described. Matthew 9:36 - The compassionate ministry of Jesus described. Mark 1: 40 - 42 -The willingness of Jesus to heal described. Let us follow Jesus in the gospels where healing and the preaching of eternal life are definitely connected. Other healing accounts are not included in this chapter.
•
Multitudes From Many Cities Following Jesus Let us begin with Mathew Chapter 4, beginning from verse 12. Notice that Jesus went about teaching in the synagogues of Galilee, preaching and healing all manner of sickness among the people. Non-Jews also lived in Galilee (v.15). Verse 24 says, "And His fame went throughout all Syria (a gentile nation), and the Syrians brought people with sickness, different diseases, torments, paralysis, demon possessed and even the lunatic and Jesus healed them".
• • • • •
Now great multitudes of people followed Him from Galilee Decapolis or ten Greek cities of gentiles Jerusalem Judea beyond Jordan (v.25) Notice the connection between healing and the bread of life now. His very presence brought light to regions of darkness (v. 15, 16). His message was calling people to turn around and enter the kingdom of heaven on earth (v.17). When the healings brought multitudes, did the Master just heal the people silently and let them go? Surely, he would have preached or taught the people, for that was His method Teaching, Preaching, Healing, Teaching Preaching, Healing, ... (See also Matt. 9: 35). The time was right and seeing the multitudes, Jesus went up the mountain and His disciples came to Him, he opened His mouth and taught them what we know as the
beautiful Sermon on the Mount! (Matt 5:1- 7:27). Even today, healings attract attention. Preaching is not in idle or useless non-effective words but in power and demonstration of the Holy Ghost and in the effective ministration of the GOSPEL, it is the Power of God. •
Judgment That Brings Justice, Victory And Trust In Jesus To Gentiles: Mathew 12:18 - 21 Activity in the realm of the spirit has physical manifestations. Let us see how justice brings victory that causes gentiles to trust in the name of Jesus for salvation. The above text is a fulfillment of Isaiah 42:1-4. Look at the events leading to this fulfillment. In v.13, Jesus heals a man with a withered hand on the Sabbath day. The Pharisees then plan to eliminate Him. Jesus knowing this withdrew Himself from that place and great multitudes followed Him. Jesus healed them all. The Lord then charges the people who were healed not to make Him known. At this stage of His ministry, Jesus did not want publicity among His own people, the Jews. Thus the prophecy of Isaiah 42:1-4 was fulfilled. Let us take a closer look at Mathew 12:15-22 in sequential order: o The prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled after great healings, and Jesus request to keep the news from spreading. o The prophecy has been fulfilled because judgment has been shown to the Gentiles (v.15-18) by mass healings. The Gentiles were getting a taste of God’s love. Truth was being revealed that God loved them. Judgment of satan, as the deceiver, the cause of sin and sickness was being revealed. o The prophecy was fulfilled because Jesus did not strive or cry, and neither did any man hear His voice on the street (v.19). This act was also at only one stage of His work. o He did not break the frailest sign of faith neither did He quench a spark of faith TILL victory was got by judgment. Later on He often rebuked His disciples for their lack of active faith. o This victory caused the Gentiles to trust in Him as the Savior (v.21). o This fulfilled of prophecy again causes a blind and dumb man to be brought to Him for healing. (v.22). o The connection between healing and the goodness for the soul is thus clear. Healing is the judgment of God on sickness and diseases. This judgment brings victory to God and men causing even the Gentiles to trust in Him. Oh! Bless the Lord all ye nations of the world.
•
• • • •
Binding The Strongman The deliverance of a man from demons of blindness and dumbness in Matt. 12:22, causes such amazement that the Pharisees to protect their prestigious positions declare that this miracle is done by the power of the prince of devils. Satan causes lying signs and wonders (2 Thes. 2:9). But oh! be careful in distinguishing between the works of God and the works of the devil! The reply of the Lord silences His critics. Our interest is now in casting out devils binding the strongman the kingdom of God blasphemy Jesus said that He cast out devils by the Spirit of God (see also Luke 4: 18,19 & Acts 10:38). He said this after the blind and dumb devils had been cast out. He said that this casting out of devils brought the kingdom of God to them. How can a man see
the kingdom of God until the strong evil power that blinds and binds him be cast out (v.28)? Those extending the good kingdom of God, which is righteousness peace, joy and love, invariably find themselves opposed by demons of darkness and strange yet powerful evil forces. Spiritual warfare interests and involves every child of God. This spiritual warfare is in every city, town and village in the world. The kingdom of God is revealed and offered to the people to receive when the strong man is bound (v. 28,29). This is the only place in the scripture where the phrase "Bind the strong man" is used! Is it not noteworthy and enlightening to know that Jesus used this phrase, in the context of healing? The strong man is bound when devils are cast out and the sick healed. There cannot be any talk about binding the strong man without the casting out of devils and the healing of the sick. Bear in mind that death is an enemy of man and all sickness is incipient death. The Holy Spirit guides us into truth. By the power of the Holy Ghost mighty works of God are done. Jesus said that all sins, blasphemies and words against Him would be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Ghost shall never be forgiven in this world or the next. (v.31,32). What an awful warning! How sacred, holy and precious must be the Spirit of God! Woe to the man who blasphemies the Holy Ghost. What a caution to the man, woman or child who has the Holy Spirit. •
The New Doctrine Of Authority: Mark 1:21- 32 The people were astonished at the doctrines or teachings of Jesus, for it was not as that of the scribes which lacked authority (v22). Jesus taught as a man of authority. Demons trembled and screamed in His presence. Recognizing His authority, demons fled when rebuked by the Master. The people wondered and discussed among themselves this new doctrine - the doctrine of authority and power over evil spirits (v27). Yes! The acts of God will cause men to think about Him. This gives an opening for the Word of God to be received. Immediately His fame spread through the entire region round about Galilee (v.28). The result of this was the city was gathered at His door and mass healings again (v.32, 33). Oh! The blessed doctrine of authority! Bless God who forgives all our sins and heals all diseases.
•
The Mad Man of Gadarea: Mark 5: 1 - 20 When Jesus reached the country of the Gadarenes, the first man to meet him was a man from the cemetery with unclean spirits. Yes, when there is a strong light, the hidden things of evil are manifest. This man lived in the mountains and in the tombs crying and cutting himself with stones. Efforts to hold the man in chains were futile many times, for he broke the chains in pieces. No man could tame or control him. But the demons tremble in the presence of the Son of God. After Jesus casts the devils out of him and into the pigs, the man sat normally, clothed and in his right mind. The man now wants to follow Jesus but Jesus asks him to go home and tell all about the commission of the Lord. The once demon possessed man begins to tell of his deliverance in the ten Greek cities (Decapolis), and all men did marvel or wonder or think about this great demonstration of power. Men saw the madness and nakedness of the man but Jesus saw beyond that into the crying, tormented soul and was moved with compassion and set him free.
•
Healing Of A Man With Paralysis: Luke 5:18-26 A man is invalid because of paralysis. Confined to his frame cot, there is no way he can get to Jesus by himself. But concerned and loving friends carry the cot with the man and try to bring him into the house where Jesus was ministering. Unable to make their way
through, they carry him to the roof. Removing the roof tiles, they make a large hole in the roof. With ropes tied to the cot they lower their friend down right before Jesus! What faith and courage and determination! Jesus seeing this act of faith tells the sick man, “Thy sins are forgiven thee!". Is there not a connection between sin and sickness? (not always however). The paralyzed man and his friend’s faith for healing bring forgiveness of sins first! Friends, salvation is an all inclusive word from the Greek word "sozo". It is a removal of all hindrances to receive all that Adam lost by disobedience. When Jesus forgave the sins of the paralytic, He was saying that He was God; the Pharisees knew that only God could forgive sins (v.21). The sick man, his friends and all the sick in the room were eagerly waiting to receive all that the Master had. But, like today, the scribes and Pharisees questioned the authority of Jesus. If they had had their way, the poor people would never have received the glorious blessings of God. But Jesus was authorized, empowered by the Holy Ghost and sent by the Heavenly Father to declare and demonstrate the Father's love. Jesus knowing the questionings of the Pharisees asks them, "Is it easier to say, thy sins be forgiven thee or to say, Rise up and walk?” That my friends, is the question I ask you today - Which is easy to say? a) Do not worry, your sins are forgiven, everything will be all right, God bless you, etc ... OR
b) Be healed, rise and walk, blind eyes open, deaf and dumb devils come out. Which is easy to say and see on the spot? Friends, to say soothing comforting words of blessing is easy. It does not require any visible, tangible manifestation. But to say words that require and demand corresponding physical results is something else. To say 'Thy sins are forgiven' is one thing but to say ‘Rise up and walk' is a very difficult thing. What if the man does not rise up and walk? Jesus would have become a laughing stock Jesus continues, "That all of you may know that I, the Son of Man has power on this earth to forgive sins, (He now turns to the paralytic and speaks) I say unto you paralytic – Rise, take up your bed and go home". Immediately the man rises, takes up his bed and walks home glorifying God. The people glorified God and were filled with fear for they were in the presence of one who had proved His spiritual power with physical manifestation. To all who are invalid, in the throes of sin and distress, in bed with incurable diseases I ask this question: what would Jesus do, looking at you on your bed? He is waiting for you to look at Him or call on Him if you can. Look up, and receive your miracle. He hates your suffering. He has paid the price for our spirit, soul, and body, which now belongs to Him. Let Him be glorified in you. Throw aside doubts, fears, unbelief, and wrong counsel and receive all which the Lord has for you. Healings destroy satan's kingdom. Healings show God's love and concern for man. Individuals respond to or reject God's love. •
Glory to the God of Israel: Matt. 15:29 - 31 Jesus goes into a high mountain near the Sea of Galilee. Great multitudes follow Him on the mountain slopes. Remember that the multitudes that followed Jesus were not just Jews, but also Gentiles from several nations (Matt. 4: 25). Among the multitudes, were
the lame, blind, dumb and the maimed brought to Jesus for healing. Jesus healed them with such great power and perfection, that the multitudes glorified the God of Israel. If only the Jews or the Israel of God glorified God, then the God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob would have been glorified. But even non-Jews praised the God of Israel. Even this day, there are thousands that glorify the God of the Christians, the Lord Jesus Christ. Many such will enter the Kingdom of God, as it was when the Church was born. Surely, Jesus would have mentioned something about the Kingdom of God! He was the greatest Evangelist!
Bodily Healing in the Atonement It is amazing and sad how some Bible teachers irreverently oppose healing in the atonement. I suppose it is to justify sickness in the Church. The very thought of having to discuss this aspect is heart rending as most of the opposition to healing in the atonement comes from teachers. It seems that some who proclaim the way of salvation would fight for the right to be sick!
Let us remember that before sin entered the world, there was no sickness, diseases and death. Surely, there is a connection between sin and sickness? Let us also remember that Jesus as the second or last Adam, came to regain all that the first Adam had lost. There is no more sacrifice for sin and it's deadly consequences. Jesus finished the work of complete and perfect redemption and His victory over sin, and death and hell must be advanced until all things are under His feet. Bodily healing thereby became a provision in the New Testament in His blood. Any sickness was a curse for breaking the Law of God. Read Deuteronomy 28, which is the Blessings and Curses chapter. Many sicknesses are mentioned and all those that are not mentioned are also termed as a curse. Now, Jesus became a curse for us and redeemed us from the curse of the law. Galatians 3:13 - “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree” Isaiah 53:4, 5 - “Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.” The word healed (rapha) in Isaiah 53:5 means cured. It is the same word used to describe God our Healer in Exodus 15:26. 1 Cor 6:13 says that the body is for the Lord and the Lord is for the body! The Hebrew word for healed in Isaiah 53: 5 is 'rapha' - this means to mend, cure, heal, repair, make whole. There are more than a dozen Hebrew and Greek words found in scores of passages which plainly teach physical soundness, healing, health, preservation, salvation, and deliverance.
Consider the connection between Matthew 8: 16, 17 and Isaiah 53:4 as recorded in Matthew, “When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick: That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses.” If you have been battling sickness and come to this crucial point, facing discouragement from those who do not discern the body of the Lord, take courage child of God, for you have come to the last battle field in your quest for healing. You may not be able to study the Scriptures in their original languages, but you can know and hear your Savior in a powerful way. To those who oppose healing in the atonement and say that it was only a spiritual work – simply tell them that out of the spiritual comes the natural or the physical! Do they want the sick to remain sick? Are they absolutely sure that they are not demeaning the work on Calvary? Can they look Jesus in the eye and say, "You did not suffer for my sickness?" For those who are interested in studying the key words in Hebrew and Greek, we strongly recommend the book mentioned below. If it is not available in your area, please let us know which words or verses interest you and we will send you more information on them. Recommended Reading: Bodily Healing and the Atonement, by T.J. McCrossan, published by RHEMA Bible Church, Tulsa, Oklahoma
He Did, He Can, He Will
Martin Luther
The God that stopped the sun on high And sent the manna from the sky Laid flat the walls of Jericho And put to flight all Israel's foe Why can't He answer prayer today And drive each stormy cloud away? Who turned the water into wine And healed a helpless cripple's spine Commanded tempest, "Peace be still" And hungry multitudes did fill. His power is just the same today So why not labour, watch and pray?
.
He conquered in the lion’s den And brought Lazarus back alive again He heard Elijah's cry for rain And freed the sufferers from their pain If He would do those wonders then Let's prove our mighty God again! Why can't the God who raised the dead And gave little David, Goliath’s head Who cast out the demons with a word And sees the fall of one wee bird Do signs and miracles today In that same good old-fashioned way? He can, He's just the same today!
Healing & Church Growth Healing constituted one-third of the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ. It was also an integral part of the apostle’s ministry. However, in today's church, divine healing is a much neglected or disputed aspect of Christian ministry. Most churches do not have any effective healing ministry nor do they teach and preach healing. There is no clear authoritative teaching on divine healing and people perish for lack of knowledge in this primary area. Sickness and disease and incipient death being a common enemy, churches that pray for the sick, or for some other reasons effectively or otherwise are usually the most crowded and fastest growing churches. Sickness and disease is playing havoc in the lives of the people of God today. Lives, careers, families and even ministries are devastated by ailments that cost hundreds and thousands of our money. Sickness and disease has come to be an accepted and expected way of life. Medical science and doctors, though a gift from God, have taken the place of the Word of God in homes. Cases of people not being healed despite strong faith and prayers, the illness and untimely passing away of those serving God, the fear of failure in prayer, instances of excesses and extremes have all added to weaken faith in Christ as the Healer. There is very little knowledgeable and effective spiritual resistance to sickness. There is more faith in medical knowledge than in the God of knowledge. God's Word has been set aside and the doctor's word has become "yes" and "amen" today. People can reel off doctors and lab reports and medical prescriptions while they find it hard to quote few scriptures on divine healing. This unnatural state of affairs prevails today, because churches have failed to teach divine healing as a doctrine, as the children's bread. There is no bible college or seminary that has a separate, extensive paper on healing. Sometimes, it seems as if Christians would fight for the right to be sick simply because healing is taught outside their circles. We often come across Christians who prefer to die rather than change their stubborn ways. Christians do not resist sickness as they ought to, simply leaving everything to God:, with a brief prayer and without any serious study on this matter, while even some non Christian doctors would fight till the end to save a life. In truth many Christians owe their lives to doctors and all their talk about putting everything in the hands of God is plain talk and they have failed in not fighting the good fight of faith in this area of Christian life. There is no doubt in the minds of any of God's people that God can heal any sickness or disease. Even an unsaved person will assert that nothing is impossible with God. But the lingering, faithcrippling doubt is, "Will God heal this time, in this case?" Incorrect teaching, genuine doubts from
a casual reading of scriptures, failure to recognize and attribute certain diseases to the working of evil spirits, differing opinions from theologians, using scriptures out of context and experiences of failures, force God's people to use the scriptures to apply to their conditions rather than to bring their experiences around to match the divine attributes of God. Has the attribute of Jehovah Rapha, "I am the Lord that healeth Thee" changed? If it has, then we are in danger of standing on unsure ground concerning His other attributes precious and dear to us as, "The Lord our Shepherd" (Jehovah Roi), The Lord our Peace, (Jehovah Shalom), etc. Church's often fail to realize that sickness came after the fall, that the law given by Moses also associated sickness and diseases with failure to keep the law (Deut 28: 15) Even the wonderful promises in the Old Testament are enough to overcome sickness. What a tragedy it is to fail to see the healing Christ as the same living Lord today. How sad it is when we fail to see the promises of healing become a provision in the New Testament. How sad it is to see terribly ailing ones being told by healthy and fine looking ministers that the healing scriptures refer only to spiritual healing. How sad it is when we are not filled with the compassion of Christ to such an extent that will cause us to minister healing by faith. However comforting it may be in the face of sickness., how sad it is to hear words like, "It is all in the will of God." This is the religious equivalent of the unsaved man who will say, "It is all our fate!" This is the produce of theology without kneeology. What pitiable laments are words like these - "Who can understand God's ways," or "Oh! His ways are so mysterious" - when the New Testament in the blood of Jesus commands us not to be unwise, but to understand His will, when we are enjoined to allow the mind of Christ to work in us, when we are given power over all the power of the enemy, when the Great Commission includes the casting out of devils and the recovery of the sick, when the Blessed New Testament includes God dwelling in us and walking in us! Away with ignorance and forms of godliness that deny the power and let us humbly learn and let Christ arise in His churches with the blessed bread of bodily healing With the worldwide healing revival in the 1960's, churches in that embraced, encouraged and practiced healing began to see a tremendous growth. Many had remarkable, indelible, healing encounters with the Living Lord Jesus Christ, that they left all to preach the gospel; and this caused the great mushrooming of churches that endeavored to preach and teach the fullness of redemptions' provisions. This healing revival was recorded in countries around the globe. Healings, however, are meant to turn people to the Lord. If we follow the healing ministry of Jesus in the gospels, we see that it is always preceded or followed by the giving out of the Bread of Life. We see the same pattern in the ministry of the apostles in the book of Acts and we also see it in the ministry of men and women who are truly ordained by the Lord and sent out into the mission fields. One vital aspect that has discouraged the churches from persevering in healing is the failure to discern Christ's method of healing within Israel and to others. We have failed to learn the pattern of healing within the Church and outside the Church. When Jesus sent the twelve apostles, He sent them specifically to the lost sheep of the house of Israel (Mat 10:6), they were to clearly tell about the kingdom of God and then heal the sick Healing is the children's bread but nevertheless in the Church it is first the kingdom of God within, the river of God flowing from within. But when Jesus sent the seventy to the other towns and cities, He reversed the order! In Luke 10:1, He tells them to heal the sick and tell them of the kingdom of God. A drowning man does not need swimming lessons. He needs a rope quickly. Those who are sliding to hell through sickness desperately need a miraculous lifting hand and heart that will heal and then teach.
Again, today's Church worldwide (with the rare exception of few ministries) has failed to understand the real meaning of binding the strongman, which term is common in discussing church conditions and growth. Removing demonic strongholds or binding the strongman both mean the same. The phrase about binding the strong man is used only in one context by Jesus in the Bible - in the gospels in Matthew 12:29 and Mark 3:27. The Church has miserably failed to see that this phrase is in the context of healing and casting out devils and so has become woefully weak in this area. Pioneering ministers who depend on the power and operation of the Holy Ghost will readily testify that it is only after a healing or deliverance from demons, they have been able to enter a village or establish a congregation. Though we can say that divine healing is Jesus "visiting card", there are times when healings will not have the desired effect. When Jesus healed the mad man of Gadarea, he was asked to leave the city. When Paul cast out an evil spirit from a girl, the enemies of righteousness caused a city wide stir (Acts 16: 16-24) In Luke 16:31 we are told that some will not believe even if one rose from the dead. Healing is not salvation and without salvation there is no adding to the church. Out of the ten lepers who were cleansed, only one came to give thanks. Even today many receive healing and deliverance but are not added to any local church. People throng to some churches basically for healing or deliverance from demon power and many leaders are content to see overflowing congregations. Evangelists are content with reporting healings and the efforts to establish the blessed person in the Body of Christ is very feeble or ineffective. Without people being baptized into the Body of Christ (the Lord knows them that are His) there is no real church growth. Again, we should consider the percentage of healings and not the number of healings. If 5000 sick people attend various healing ministering churches in a city or town on a Sunday morning and 500 are healed, then only ten percent of the people are being healed. If the percentage of healings increase then we can expect greater true church growth. After the miraculous events in Acts 2, about 3000 souls are added to the church. After a major healing in Acts 3, many believed and 4000 more are added to the church in Acts 4. The adding of 3000 souls to the church is often attributed solely to the miracle of different languages and the bold preaching of Peter and the adding of 4000 to the church is again attributed solely to the healing in Acts 3 and the bold preaching in Acts 4 even in the face of dire threats. Without a shadow of doubt, the miracles are connected to the conversions. But we must also remember that these conversions were not very far apart in time from the ministry of Jesus. It is highly probable that most of those who came under the ministry of the apostles in the birthing of the Church had already been under the ministry of Jesus too; and Jesus healed all the sick who came to Him. Jesus said in John 12:24 that when a corn of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it will bring forth much fruit. Jesus' death, burial and resurrection are even today bringing forth fruit and how much more we can link it to the birthing of the early church. So, the percentage of healings is important to church growth. This can increase only when sickness and disease are attacked on a war footing and the children of God receive their inheritance of bodily healing. The ministry of healing is also vital to Christian unity which again is vital to church growth (John 17:21) One would have observed that under a healing ministry, people from all sections of Christianity gather. In closing this chapter, one rarely spoken of aspect of Christian ministry in relation to true church growth must be mentioned. We all admit that Jesus is our perfect example and His words of Commissioning are to be taken very seriously. He has very specifically told us to preach
repentance and remission of sins in His Name (Luke 24:47) and He has given us the promise that He would build His Church. Instead, many are terribly busy building church buildings and then wooing people with all the fringe benefits of the gospel to fill their buildings. Such comers to the church are hard to disciple. Disciplining or growing a church, is not just putting the members through a time bound course but rather a demanding, challenging and radical lifestyle. Bless God, despite all the failures or frailties of His people, we have the majestic proclamation of Jesus, "I will build MY CHURCH and the gates of hell cannot prevail against it." Amen.
APPENDIX A Healing Scriptures Proverbs 4:20-22 says, My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. For they are life to those that find them, and health to all their flesh. (KJV) The Hebrew word for “health” in verse 22 is “medicine.” God’s Word is medicine to all our flesh. Isaac Leeser’s translation of Exodus 15:26 reads, I the Lord am thy physician. The medicine He prescribes is His Word. Many make the mistake of substituting belief in healing for the actual taking of God’s medicine – His Word. They say, “I believe in healing” without actually taking the medicine. What good would it do for you to believe in food if you didn’t eat it? You would starve. What good would it do for you to believe in water if you didn’t actually drink any? You would die of thirst. God’s Word is His medicine. There are several parallels between God’s medicine and natural medicine. First: God’s Word is a healing agent, just as natural medicine is a healing agent or catalyst. In other words, the medicine itself contains the capacity to produce healing. Inherent within God’s Word is the capacity, the energy, the ability, and the nature to effect healing in your body. Psalm 107:20 – He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions. 20
… He sent out His word, and it healed, and from their corruptions it freed!
(Fenton)
Proverbs 4:22 – For they (His Words) are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh. (KJV)
Isaiah 55:11 – The Word of God will accomplish what it was sent out to do. The Word itself contains the power to produce what it says. Just as when God said, “Let there be light” and there was light, healing Scriptures contain within them the capacity to produce healing. Hebrews 4:12 – For the word of God is quick and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit … (KJV) 12
God’s Message is full of life and power. (Weymouth)
12
God’s Word is alive with energy. (Jordan)
12
God’s word to us is something alive, full of energy. (Knox)
The key to partaking of the life and healing energy in the Word is feeding on it until it penetrates your spirit where it deposits that life and energy. Second: We might say that medicine is no respector of persons. It will work for anyone who takes it. It is not a matter of if God is willing or not willing to heal any individual, but whether or not the individual will receive healing by taking the medicine that produces it. Third, and most important: Medicine must be taken according to directions to be effective. Some medicine labels read, “Take internally”; others say, “Take externally.” To rub it on your body externally when the directions say to take it internally will not work. To take it after meals when the directions say take it before meals will reduce its effectiveness. To take it once in a while when the directions say three times a day will mean limited results, if any. No matter how good the medicine is, it must be taken according to the directions or it won’t work. So it is with God’s medicine. It must be taken according to directions for it to work. The directions for taking God’s medicine are found in: Proverbs 4:20-21 – Attend to them, incline your ear to them, don’t let them depart from before your eyes, and keep them in the midst of your heart. We might say that attending to them, inclining your ear to them, and keeping them before your eyes causes the Word to get into the midst of your heart. Notice this: It is only as God’s Words get in the midst of your heart and stay there that they produce healing in your body. Head knowledge won’t do. They are going to have to penetrate to your spirit through meditation – attending, hearing, looking, muttering, musing, pondering – to produce healing in your body. But once they do penetrate, they will surely bring health to all your flesh. … let them penetrate deep within your heart. (Living Bible) You can see again that God’s way of healing is spiritual. Power is ministered first to your spirit, then distributed to your body. God’s medicine must be taken internally. Listen,
instead of wondering whether you have enough faith to be healed, just take the medicine. This handout contains Healing Scriptures. Feed on them several times a day, repeating them over and over again to yourself. The medicine itself will work if you will get it inside of you. Fourth: Remember that it takes time for medicine to work. Most people give natural medicine a lot of time, patience, and money to work. They take the prescription back for refills and more refills. They are diligent about it. They don’t just take one dose and expect a miracle. Keep taking God’s medicine. Give it time to work. Take your medicine. Say these Scriptures to yourself. Think on what you’re saying in your heart. Use them in praise to the Father. His Word is medicine to all your flesh. Exodus 15:25-26 – And he cried unto the Lord; and the Lord shewed him a tree, which when he had cast into the waters, the waters were made sweet: there he made for them a statute and an ordinance, and there he proved them, and said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the Lord thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the Lord that healeth thee. (KJV) 26
… I the Lord am your healer. (New English Bible)
26
… for I the Lord am thy physician. (Leeser)
26
… I am the Lord your life-giver. (Basic English)
26
… I am Yahweh thy physician. (Rotherham)
26
… I, Jehovah, am healing thee. (Young)
26
… for I, the Lord, make you immune to them (diseases). (Smith-Goodspeed)
26
… I, the Lord, will bring thee only health. (Knox)
CONFESSION: God is speaking to me now, saying, “I am the Lord that healeth thee.” He is watch-ing over this Word to perform it. He is the Lord that healeth me. He is healing me now. This Word contains the ability to produce what it says. He is the Lord that healeth me. He is healing me now. His Word is full of healing power. I receive this Word now. I receive the healing that is in His Word now. Healing is inherent in God’s nature. God is in me. My body is the temple of God. My body is the temple of the Lord that healeth me. God is bigger than sickness and Satan. God is dwelling inside of me now, healing me now. The Lord that healeth me is my Shepherd; I do not lack healing. My body is in contact with the Lord that healeth me. My body has to respond to God’s healing life and nature at work in me now. Healing is in God, and God is in me. I thank You, Father, because You are my Healer; and You are healing me now.
Exodus 23:25 – And ye shall serve the Lord your God, and he shall bless thy bread, and thy water; and I will take sickness away from the midst of thee. (KJV) … And give worship to the Lord your God, who will send a blessing on your bread 25
and on your water; and I will take all disease away from among you. (Basic English) 25
… I will free you from disease. (Moffatt, Smith-Goodspeed)
25
… I have turned aside sickness from thy heart. (Young)
25
… and keep sickness away from thy company. (Knox)
CONFESSION: “I will” is the strongest assertion that can be made in the English language. God is speaking to me now saying, “I will take sickness away from the midst of thee.” God is watching over this Word, performing it in me now. He is taking sickness away from the midst of me. Good-bye, sickness! The Lord is taking you away from the midst of me. Thank You, Father, for taking sickness away from me. I thank You for doing what You said. Deuteronomy 7:15 – And the Lord will take away from thee all sickness, and will put none of the evil diseases of Egypt, which thou knowest, upon thee; but will lay them upon all them that hate thee. (KJV) CONFESSION: The Lord is taking away from me all sickness. His Word contains the ability to do what it says. His Word will not return void but will accomplish what it was sent to do. The Lord is taking away from me all sickness, every trace of weakness and deficiency. Sickness is going out of me now. Thank You, Father, for taking away from me all sickness like You said. Psalm 30:2 – O Lord my God, I cried unto thee, and thou hast healed me. (KJV) Mark 11:24 – Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. (KJV) CONFESSION: I believe I have received my healing. Thou hast healed me. I don’t consider what I feel. I believe I am healed. Thou hast healed me. Psalm 42:11 – Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God. (KJV)
CONFESSION: I refuse to be cast down or discouraged. I am the conqueror. I will yet praise Him Who is the health of my countenance and my God. Father, I praise You because You are the health of my countenance. Psalm 91:1-6, 9-10 – He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust. Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler. Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday. Because thou hast made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation; there shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. (KJV) 1
2
3
4
5
6
9
10
He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall remain stable and fixed under 1
the shadow of the Almighty [Whose power no foe can withstand]. (Amplified) He who sitteth under the secret protection of the Most High, shall rest under the shadow 1
of the Almighty. (Leeser) Anyone dwelling in the secret place of the Most High will procure himself lodging under 1
the very shadow of the Almighty One. (New World) 1
One who lives under the Most High’s screen, lodges under Shaddai’s canopy.
(Byington)
He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High, who abides in the shadow of the Almighty, 1
2
will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress; my God, in whom I trust.”
(RSV) 1
He who is dwelling in the secret place of the Most High, in the shade of the
mighty lodgeth habitually, He is saying of Jehovah … (Young) 1
the shade
Happy is he whose resting-place is in the secret place of the Lord, and under
of the wings of the Most High; (Basic English) 2
Who says of the Lord, He is my safe place and my tower of strength:
he is my God … (Basic English) He who dwells... Says of the Lord … (Smith-Goodspeed)
1
He who lives under the protection of the Most High, under his heavenly care content 1
to abide, (Knox) 2
can say to the Lord, Thou art my support and my stronghold, my God, in whom
I trust. (Knox) 3
He will take you out of the bird-net, and keep you safe from wasting disease.
(Basic English)
He will keep you safe from all hidden dangers and from all deadly disease.
3
(Good News) 3
… and from the deadly plague. (Beck)
It is he that rescues me from every treacherous snare, from every whisper of harm. (Knox) 3
Sheltered under his arms, under his wings nestling, thou art safe; his faithfulness will 4
throw a shield about thee. (Knox) 4
… His faithful promises are your armor. (Living Bible)
5
Nothing shalt thou fear from nightly terrors … (Knox)
6
… from the assault of man or fiend under the noon. (Knox)
5
You will have no fear of the evil things of the night …(Basic English)
6
Or of the disease which takes men in the dark … (Basic English)
6
… the plague ravaging at noon. (Beck)
6
… nor the devastating plague at noon. (New American Bible)
6…
or the plague raging at noonday. (New English Bible)
6
… nor the plague that destroys at midday. (NIV)
6
… nor of the deadly disease that wasteth at noonday. (Leeser)
9
Because you [said]: “Jehovah is my refuge,” you have made the Most High
Himself your dwelling. (New World) 9 Because
you have said, I am in the hands of the Lord, the Most High is my safe
resting-place. (Basic English) 10 No
disaster will befall you, no calamity will come upon your home.
(New English Bible) 10
There is no harm that can befall thee … (Knox)
10 No
disaster will befall you, Nor calamity come near your tent.
(Smith-Goodspeed) 10
… and so no disaster will strike you, no violence will come near your home.
(Good News) 10
So sickness will not approach you, Contagion not enter your Rest. (Fenton)
CONFESSION: I am abiding under the shadow of the Almighty. Jehovah-Rapha, the Lord that healeth me, is my refuge and fortress against disease. His Word is my shield and buckler against sickness. I’m trusting under His wings because Malachi 4:2 says there is healing in His wings. I’m not afraid of disease. I’m not afraid of sickness. I’m abiding under the shadow of Jehovah-Rapha, the Lord that healeth me. No plague shall come nigh my dwelling or my body. I resist sickness and disease. I refuse to accept it! It’s not mine! I refuse to be sick in Jesus’ Name. Sickness cannot trespass in my body. Sickness, (name it), you can’t come nigh my dwelling. I refuse you! I resist you! Psalm 103:2-3 – Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases. (KJV) 3 He
pardons all my guilt and heals all my suffering. (New English Bible)
3…
he takes away all your diseases. (Basic English)
3…
Who is healing all thy disease. (Young)
CONFESSION: Bless the Lord, Jehovah-Rapha, O my soul. Blessed be God the Father. Lord, I praise You. Lord, I thank You and praise You for Your benefits. (A benefit is a condition of a contract, not a bonus thrown in extra at the discretion of the employer.) You forgive all my sins, all my faults, all my failures and disobedience. You heal all my diseases, and I thank You for it. Healing belongs to me as part of the New Covenant. Healing is my redemptive right. Thank You, Father, for healing all my diseases! Psalm 107:20 – He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions. 20 … he 20 …
sent his word to heal them and preserve their life. (Moffatt)
and delivereth them from their graves. (Leeser)
20 He
sent out His word, and it healed, and from their corruptions it freed! (Fenton)
CONFESSION: He sent His Word and healed me. His Word heals me and delivers me from my destructions. His Word frees me from my corruptions. God’s Word says in Isaiah 55:10-11 that it contains God’s ability to perform what it says. His Word is healing me now. His Word contains His healing power. His Word is working in me now. He has sent His Word and healed me. Proverbs 4:20-22 – 20 My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. 21 Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. 22 For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh. (KJV) 21
… let them penetrate deep within your heart. (Living Bible)
22 Let
a man master them, they will bring life and healing to his whole being. (Knox)
22
… and to all his body a healing. (Leeser)
22
… to every part of one’s flesh they bring healing. (Rotherham)
CONFESSION: God’s Word is health to all my flesh. His Word is medicine to my flesh. I am the Lord that healeth thee is medicine to all my flesh. I will take sickness away from the midst of thee is medicine to my flesh. The Word of God is full of the life of God. That life is saturating my spirit. God’s life and healing power is in His Word, and His Word is at work in me now. The Word of God is depositing the life of God and the healing of God into my spirit. That life and health is spreading out of my spirit into every tissue and pore of my body, creating health and soundness. My body has no choice but to respond to the healing in the Word that is being absorbed into me now. Proverbs 12:18 – There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health. (KJV)
18 A
reckless tongue wounds like a sword, but there is healing power in thoughtful words. (Moffatt)
18 Thoughtless
words can wound as deeply as any sword, but wisely spoken words
can heal. (Good News) 18 There
are some whose uncontrolled talk is like the wounds of a sword, but the tongue of the wise makes one well again. (Basic English)
CONFESSION: My tongue makes me well. I have what I say. I say, The Lord is my Healer. I say, He takes sickness away from me. I say, No plague can come nigh my dwelling. I say, He healeth all my diseases. What I confess, I possess. My words make me well. There is healing power in my words, for they are God’s Words. I speak health to every muscle, tissue, fiber, and cell in my body. I release God’s healing power with my words into my whole body. Healing is mine! Proverbs 17:22 – A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones. (KJV) 22 Being
cheerful keeps you healthy. (Good News)
22 A
happy heart is a healing medicine … (Smith-Goodspeed)
22 A
glad heart makes a healthy body … (Basic English)
22 A
glad heart helps and heals … (Moffatt)
22 A
glad heart is excellent medicine, a spirit depressed wastes the bones away. (Jerusalem)
22 A
cheerful heart makes a quick recovery; it is crushed spirits that waste a man’s
frame. (Knox) 22 The 22 A
best medicine is a cheerful heart … (Fenton)
joyful heart worketh an excellent cure … (Rotherham)
22 …
a broken spirit makes one sick. (Living Bible)
CONFESSION: Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha! I have a merry heart. Sickness can’t dominate me. Satan can’t dominate me. What do you think you’re trying to do, devil? You can’t put sickness on me. Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha! I have a merry heart. I’m full of joy. A merry heart works like a medicine. God’s medicine is working in me!
Isaiah 53:3-5 – 3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. 4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. (KJV) 3…
a man of pains, and acquainted with disease … (Leeser)
3…
he was a man of sorrows, marked by disease … (Basic English, Masoretic O.T.)
3…
Man of pains and familiar with sickness. (Rotherham, Byington)
4
But only our diseases did he bear himself, and our pains he carried. (Leeser)
4 But
it was our pain he took, and our diseases were put on him: while to us he
seemed as one diseased, on whom God’s punishment had come. (Basic English) 4 Surely 4
our diseases he did bear, and our pains he carried … (Masoretic O.T.)
Yet surely our sicknesses he carried, And as for our pains he bare the burden
of them. (Rotherham) 4
But in fact it was our sicknesses he was carrying, our pains he was loaded with.
(Byington) 4
Yet it was our sicknesses that he bore, our pains that he carried. (Smith-Goodspeed)
5
… through his bruises was healing granted to us. (Leeser)
5
… by his stripes there is healing for us. (Rotherham)
5
… the chastisement to give us soundness came on him, and by his stripes we got
healing. (Byington) 5
… the blows that fell to him have brought us healing. (Moffatt)
5
… we are healed by the punishment he suffered, made whole by the blows he
received. (Good News) 5…
by his bruise there is healing for us. (Young)
5
… the chastisement needful to obtain peace and well-being for us was upon Him, and with the stripes that wounded Him we are healed and made whole.
(Amplified)
CONFESSION: Surely He hath borne my sickness and diseases, and carried my pains. He took my sicknesses on Himself, and carried my pains. He bore them and carried them away to a distance. I don’t have to bear what He bore for me. I refuse to bear what He bore for me. Satan cannot put on me what Jesus bore for me. By His stripes, I am healed. By His stripes, I got healing. By His bruise, there is healing for me. His punishment has brought me healing. Healing has been granted to me. With the stripes that wounded Him, I am healed and made whole. I am made whole by the blows He received. My diseases went to the cross with Jesus and died with Him there. Satan, you’re visiting the wrong one. Jesus took my sicknesses; and by His stripes, I am healed! Malachi 4:2 – But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall. (KJV) CONFESSION: The Son of righteousness has arisen, having conquered sickness and Satan. There is healing in His wings. That healing is flowing into me now by His Word. I am trusting beneath His healing wings. Matthew 8:2-3 – And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed. (KJV) 2
A leper came up and bowed low in front of him. ‘Sir,’ he said, ‘if you want to
you can cure me.’ (Jerusalem) 3
Jesus stretched out his hand, touched him, and said, ‘Of course I want to!
Be cured!’ And his leprosy was cured at once. (Jerusalem) 2
‘… if you have the will, you have the power, to cleanse me.’ (Wade)
3
‘… I have the will; be cleansed.’ (Wade)
2
2
‘… Sir, if you really wanted to, you could heal me.’ (Jordan)
3
‘… I do want to. Be healed.’ (Jordan)
‘… if you want to, you can make me clean.’ (Phillips) 3
‘… Of course I want to. Be clean!’ (Phillips)
2
… Lord, if it is your pleasure, you have the power to make me clean. (Basic English) 3
And he put his hand on him, saying, It is my pleasure; be clean. (Basic English)
3
‘… I will it. Be cleansed.’ (Riew)
3
… It is my will … (Knox)
3
‘… I am willing …’ (Fenton, Weymouth, 20th Century)
3
… I am desiring it from all my heart. Be cleansed at once. (Wuest)
3
… I do will it … (Authentic)
CONFESSION: God wants me well. Healing is the will of God. According to Philippians 2:13, God is at work in me right now to will and to do His good pleasure. Healing is at work in me. Matthew 8:16-17 – When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses. (KJV) 17
… He took our infirmities upon Himself, and took away our diseases. (Norlie)
17
… He Himself took (in order to carry away) our weaknesses and infirmities and
bore away our diseases. (Amplified) 17
He took away our illnesses and lifted our diseases from us. (New English Bible)
17
… He took away our illnesses and carried away our diseases. (Translator’s NT)
17
He took our sicknesses away and carried our diseases for us. (Jerusalem)
17
… He took away our sicknesses and our diseases he removed. (Moffatt)
17
… He took on Himself our sicknesses and carried away our diseases. (New Life)
17
… carried off our diseases. (Wuest, Berkely)
CONFESSION: He Himself took my infirmities and bore my sicknesses. He carried away my sicknesses. He took them away and removed them. Disease is not mine – Healing is mine. I refuse to bear what Jesus bore for me. I refuse to take what He took for me. Satan, you cannot put disease on me, for Jesus took my infirmities and bore my sicknesses. I refuse to accept sickness. I will not tolerate sickness. Sickness and diseases
are totally unacceptable. I refuse to accept them. Jesus bore them, so I refuse to have them! Mark 5:25-34 – 25 And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years, 26 and had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse, 27 When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment. 28 For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole. 29 And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague. 30 And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of him, turned him about in the press, and said, Who touched my clothes? 31 And his disciples said unto him, Thou seest the multitude thronging thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me? 32 And he looked round about to see her that had done this thing. 33 But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth. 34 And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague. (KJV) 28
… for she kept saying, ‘If I can only touch his clothes, I shall get well.’ (Williams)
28
… for she kept saying, If I touch even his garments, I shall be made whole. (Wuest)
28
… she kept saying … (Phillips)
30
Jesus also was immediately aware that power had been drawn from him … (Authenic)
30
… Jesus, becoming conscious that the healing Power within Him had been in active operation … (Wade)
30
Jesus instantly perceived that healing power had passed from him … (Smith-Goodspeed)
30 Jesus
instantly became conscious that there had been a demand upon his powers … 34 ‘…
34
your own faith has made you well …’ (20th Century)
… Go and enjoy your new health, free from the trouble that was your scourge. (Barclay)
34 …
be entirely free from thy disease. (Diaglott)
CONFESSION: Her faith made her whole, and my faith makes me whole. I have faith, for I am a believer. I believe I receive my healing, and my faith makes me whole. I receive God’s power as mentioned in Ephesians 1:19. The power that raised Christ from the dead is at work in me. My faith puts that power into active operation in my body. Disease has no choice. There is no chance for its survival in my body. The power that raised Jesus from the dead is at work in me. That power is irresistable. It is greater than sickness and disease. That power is flowing in me and makes me whole. I am free. I am
entirely free from sickness and disease. I am whole. I believe I have received my healing, and my faith has made me whole! Luke 13:11-13, 16 – 11 And, behold, there was a woman which had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bowed together, and could in no wise lift up herself. 12 And when Jesus saw her, he called her to him, and said unto her, Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity. 13 And he laid his hands on her: and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God. 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? (KJV) 11
… an infirmity caused by a spirit [a demon of sickness]. (Amplified)
11
… had a disease caused by an evil spirit; she was bent double and altogether unable to hold herself up. (Plain English)
11
… a sickness caused by a spirit. (Smith-Goodspeed, Confraternity, NASNT)
11
… A woman had a spirit that caused an infirmity eighteen years and was completely
bent together by a curvature of the spine, and was not able to raise herself up at all. (Wuest) 12 …
thou art delivered … (Douay)
12
… you are freed from your sickness. (NASNT)
12
… thou hast been loosed … (Marshall)
12
… you are made free from your disease. (Basic English)
12
… you are set free from your infirmity. (NIV)
12
… you are rid of your infirmity. (Norlie)
12 …
you are freed from your disease. (Plain English)
12 …‘Lady,
you have been freed from your weakness.’ (Jordan)
12 …‘Woman,
you have been loosed from your infirmity.’ (Worrell)
12
…‘Your bondage is at an end.’ (Condon)
13
… at once she straightened herself up and burst into praising God. (Williams)
16
… was there not a need … that she be loosed … (Rotherham)
16 …
And ought not this woman, a descendant of Abraham as she is, whose power movement Satan has fettered actually for eighteen years, to have been released
from such fetters on the day of the Sabbath? (Wade) 16
… For eighteen years Satan has fettered her. Is it not right that she should be liberated from her fetters? (Barclay)
16
And is it not right for this daughter of Abraham, who has been in the power of Satan for eighteen years, to be made free on the Sabbath? (Basic English)
But this woman, a daughter of Abraham, who has been in the bondage of Satan — think 16
of it! — for eighteeen years, should not have the right to be released from her bonds because it is the Sabbath? (Norlie) CONFESSION: Satan can’t bind me with sickness. I believe that, according to Colossians 1:13, I have been delivered from Satan’s dominion and translated into the kingdom of the Son of God. Sickness is ungodly. Sickness is of the devil. Satan, you can’t put sickness on me! Who do you think you are? In Colossians 2:15 and Hebrews 2:14 it says you are a defeated foe. Jesus stripped you of your authority over me. You can’t do this to me. I resist you in Jesus’ Name. I am delivered. I am free. I have been loosed. I am no longer fettered. I am now rid of my infirmity. My bondage is at an end! It is right for me to be completely free, for I am a child of Abraham. According to Galatians 3:14, 29, Abraham’s blessings are mine. Healing is part of the covenant. I am under the covenant. Healing is mine. Healing belongs to me. It is my rightful possession. I have a right to be released. Satan, I demand my rights now! Take your filthy hands off my body! Acts 10:38 – How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him. (KJV) 38
… all who were harassed by the devil … (Moffatt)
38
… healing all who were under the power of the devil … (NIV, Plain English)
38
… healing everyone in the devil’s clutches … (Rieu)
38
… curing all those who were under the tyranny of the devil … (Barclay)
38
… healing all that were overpowered by the devil … (New Berkeley)
38
… curing all who were crushed by the power of the devil … (Weymouth)
38
… God equipped him with Holy Spirit and power, who passed through our midst acting nobly and healing all those who were lorded over by the devil … (Jordan)
38
… healing all who suffered from the devil’s power … (Phillips)
38
… Who passed through as a benefactor and healer of all those who are tyrannized over by the Adversary … (Concordant)
38
… harassed and oppressed by [the power of] the devil … (Amplified)
CONFESSION: Sickness is oppression of the devil. Satan can’t oppress me with sickness, for I have been delivered from his authority through God’s Word in Colossians 1:13. Satan can’t oppress me. I have authority to tread on Satan and demons and all the power the enemy possesses. I tread on sickness. Satan, you can’t lord it over me with foul disease. You can’t do this to me. Sickness, you can’t do this to me. You are visiting the wrong one. Healing is mine. The power that raised Jesus from the dead is at work in me. It is healing power because He is the Lord that healeth. Healing power is at work in me, and I am free! Luke 10:19 – Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. (KJV) 19
I have given you authority to trample on serpents and scorpions and all the might
of the satanic foe, and nothing will harm you in any way. (Norlie) 19
… I have given you the right to … (Knox)
19
Behold! I have given you authority and power to trample upon serpents and
scorpions, and (physical and mental strength and ability) over all the power that the enemy [possesses], and nothing shall in any way harm you. (Amplified) 19
Yes, I have given you power to trample every evil underfoot, to counter all the
might of the enemy; nothing whatever shall harm you. (Condon) 19
I have indeed invested you with power to stomp on snakes and scorpions … (Authentic)
CONFESSION: Sickness is a sign of the power of the devil. I trample on all the power of the devil. I trample on disease. I stomp on disease. I tread every evil underfoot. The Lord Jesus Christ Himself gave me authority over all the power of the enemy. I have authority over sickness. Sickness, I trample on you! I tread on you! I stomp on you! Get out, get out, get out! You have no right to dominate me. Get out of my body in Jesus’ Name. Sickness and disease are under my feet because it says in Ephesians 2:6 that I am seated with Christ above all the power of the enemy. Romans 8:2 – For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. (KJV) 2
The spiritual principle of life has set me free, in Jesus Christ, from the principle
of sin and death. (Knox) 2
For the principle of spiritual life in Christ Jesus has liberated me from the principle of sin and death. (Translator’s NT)
2
… [the law of our new being] … (Amplified)
Romans 8:11 – But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. (KJV) 11
If the Spirit of God, of Him who raised Jesus from the dead, has its home in you, then He who raised the Messiah Jesus from the dead will thrill with a new life your very bodies — those mortal bodies of yours — by the agency of His own Spirit, which now has its home in you. (Way)
11
If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead has taken possession of you,
he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give your mortal bodies life through his Spirit that has now taken possession of you. (Goodspeed)
11
… will also create life in your mortal bodies … (Godbey)
CONFESSION: The Spirit of God is residing in me. The Spirit of God is making His home in my spirit. The Spirit of the Lord that healeth is creating life, supplying life in my body, making it whole. The life of Jehovah-Rapha is being applied to my body by His Spirit who dwells in me. The life of God drives out every trace of sickness and disease. The life of God is destroying disease and germs in my body now. I Corinthians 6:13, 15, 19, 20 – 13 Meats for the belly, and the belly for meats: but God shall destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body. 15 Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid. 19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s. (KJV) CONFESSION: My body wasn’t made for sin, but for the Lord. My body wasn’t made for sick-ness, but for the Lord. My body is a member of Christ. My body belongs to Christ. Satan cannot make Christ’s body sick. Satan, how dare you trespass on God’s property. Take your hands off God’s property in Jesus’ Name! My body is the temple of Jehovah-Rapha, the Lord that healeth. He is in me healing me now, for He is the Lord that healeth me. I have been bought with a price. Jesus’ blood cleansed me from all sin; and by His stripes, my body is healed. I glorify God in my body. I refuse to allow disease in my body in Jesus’ Name. You foul disease, take your hands off my body in Jesus’ Name! Galatians 3:13 – Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree … (KJV) 13
Christ ransomed us from the curse of the law by taking that curse upon himself
for our sakes … (Translator’s NT) 13
Now, Christ bought us off the curse of the law at the cost of being accursed
for our sakes … (Wand) 13
Christ ransomed us from the curse pronounced in the law … (20th Century)
13
Christ has purchased our freedom … (Weymouth)Deuteronomy 28:
Verse 21 – The Lord shall make the pestilence cleave unto thee, until he have consumed thee from off the land, whither thou goest to possess it. (KJV) “Pestilence”: … disease after disease … (Good News, Basic English) Verse 22 – The Lord shall smite thee with a consumption, and with a fever, and with an inflam-mation, and with an extreme burning, and with the sword, and with blasting, and with mildew; and they shall pursue thee until thou perish. (KJV) “Consumption”: - tuberculosis (New World, Living Bible) - infectious diseases (Good News) - wasting disease (Basic English) “Inflammation”: - cold (Septuagint) - ague (or malarial fever) (Byington, Moffatt, Knox) - infections (Living Bible) “Extreme burning”: - influenza (Byington) - sunstroke (Smith-Goodspeed) - erysipelas (infectious disease of the hands) (Moffatt) “Sword”: - drought (Jerusalem, Byington, Berkeley, Beck, Smith-Goodspeed) “Blasting”: - blight (Living Bible, others) “Mildew”: - jaundice (Fenton)
- paleness (Septuagint) Verse 27 – The Lord will smite thee with the botch of Egypt, and with the emerods, and with the scab, and with the itch, whereof thou canst not be healed. (KJV) “Botch of Egypt”: - inflammatory disease (Leeser) - ulcer (Fenton, Douay, Young) - sores (Rotherham, Smith-Goodspeed) - boils (Jerusalem, Good News, New American Bible, Living Bible, Beck, Berkeley, NASV, RSV, Amplified, Confraternity, NIV)
“Emerods”: - hemorrhoids; (Fenton, New American Bible, Living Bible, Moffatt, NIV, Amplified, Berkeley, NASV)
- tumors (Rotherham, Leeser) “Emerods” (continued): - ulcers (RSV, Smith-Goodspeed) - swellings in the groin (Knox, Jerusalem) - sores (Good News) - piles (New World) “Scab”: - scurvy (Fenton, Young, Jerusalem, Smith-Goodspeed, Living Bible, Amplified, Moffatt, RSV) - eczema (New World, New American Bible) - incurable itch (NASV, Berkeley) - malignant scab (Septuagint) - festering sores (NIV)
“Itch”: - other sorts of skin diseases (Basic English) - skin eruptions (New World) Verse 28 – The Lord shall smite thee with madness, and blindness, and astonishment of heart … (KJV) “Madness”: - insanity (Septuagint, Byington) - lose your mind (Good News) - distracted (Knox) - your minds diseased (Basic) “Astonishment of heart”: - distraction of mind (Jerusalem) - confusion (Berkeley, Good News) - confusion of mind (NIV) - imbecility (Byington) - dismay (Smith-Goodspeed) - dismay of [mind and] heart (Amplified) - crazed in thy wits; (Knox) - confusion of heart (Leeser) - fear and panic (Living Bible) - panic (New American Bible) Verse 35 – The Lord shall smite thee in the knees, and in the legs, with a sore botch that cannot be healed, from the sole of thy foot unto the top of thy head. (KJV) “Sore botch”:
- ulcer (Fenton, Young, Douay) - boil (Rotherham, New World, Amplified) - boils (Jerusalem, Good News, Beck, NASV, New American Bible, NIV, Living Bible, RSV) - sores (Berkeley, Smith-Goodspeed) - skin disease (Basic English) - a sore inflammation (Leeser) Verse 59 – Then the Lord will make thy plagues wonderful, and the plagues of thy seed, even great plagues, and of long continuance, and sore sicknesses, and of long continuance. (KJV) “Plagues”: - … thy strokes and the strokes of thy seed … (Young) - … malignant and obstinate diseases … (Byington) - … incurable diseases and horrible epidemics … (Good News) - … severe and lasting plagues and chronic sicknesses (NASV) - … malignant and lasting maladies (New American Bible) - … cruel diseases stretching on through long years (Basic English) - … malignant and long-lasting sicknesses (New World) - … extraordinary strokes and blows (Amplified) Verse 60 – Moreover he will bring upon thee all the diseases of Egypt, which thou wast afraid of; and they shall cleave unto thee. (KJV) Verse 61 – Also every sickness, and every plague, which is not written in the book of this law, them will the Lord bring upon thee, until thou be destroyed. (KJV) 61
… every kind of sickness and disaster not recorded in this Book of the Law … (NIV)
61
any kind of sickness or calamity not mentioned in this Book of the Law … (New American Bible, Confraternity)
Verse 65 – And among these nations shalt thou find no ease, neither shall the sole of thy foot have rest: but the Lord shall give thee there a trembling heart, and failing of eyes, and sorrow of mind … (KJV) “Trembling heart, failing of eyes, sorrow of mind”: - … an anxious mind, a despairing heart (NIV) - a quaking heart, weary eyes (Jerusalem) - a shaking heart (Basic English) CONFESSION: Christ has redeemed me from the curse of the law. (The curse of the law is found in Deuteronomy 28. It is the curse for breaking God’s law. It includes sickness, as the Scriptures above show.) Christ bought me back, brought me back, and set me free from the curse of the law. Sickness and disease is part of the curse of the law; therefore, Christ has redeemed me from sickness. I am liberated! I am ransomed! I am free from disease! I am redeemed from every disease written in the curse of the law. I am redeemed from (name specific disease)! I am also redeemed from every disease that is not written in the Book of the Law. Christ has redeemed me – bought me back, brought me back, and set me free from all sickness and disease. Ephesians 4:27 – Neither give place to the devil. (KJV) 27
Stop giving the devil a chance. (Williams)
27
Give the devil no place or opportunity in your life. (Barclay)
27 …
and do not give the devil a chance. (Translator’s NT)
27 …
don’t give in one inch to the devil. (Jordan)
CONFESSION: I refuse to give place to the devil. Sickness and disease are of the devil. I refuse to give place to sickness and disease. Satan, you can’t put them on my body. You can’t! You can’t! You can’t! I say no, and I mean no. No sickness or plague comes nigh my dwelling. You have the wrong address. I will not give in one inch. Satan, you have no place in my body. You can’t do this to me. I won’t have it. It is unacceptable. It is not mine, and you cannot give it to me. You have no place in me or my body. I belong to God. Sickness, you have no choice but to go because I’m not giving you a chance. Get out now! Colossians 1: Verse 12 – Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light … (KJV)
12 …
thank the Father who has entitled you to share the lot of God’s
people in the realm of light. (Smith-Goodspeed) 12 …
who has qualified you for your share in the inheritance of the saints
in the light. (New Berkeley) 12 …
the Father that hath made you sufficient for your share … (Rotherham)
12 …
who has made us worthy … (Godbey)
12 …
he enabled us to share the inheritance of the saints who live in the light. (Noli)
12 …
to share all the wonderful things that belong to those who live in the kingdom
of light. (Living Bible) CONFESSION: I am qualified, entitled, worthy, and able to partake of my inheritance in Christ. God’s Word says in Psalm 103:3 that healing belongs to me. I refuse to be beaten out of my inheritance! Verse 13 – Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son. (KJV) 13 He
has rescued us from the dominion of darkness, and has transferred us into the realm of his dear Son. (Smith-Goodspeed) 13 He
has freed us from the power of darkness and carried us away into the kingdom of his beloved Son. (Plain English) 13 For
He has delivered us from the dominion of darkness, and translated us into the kingdom of His beloved Son. (Conybeare) 13 For
God has rescued us from the dominance exercised by the Powers of Spiritual
Darkness, and transferred us to the Dominion of His Son — the Object of His love. (Wade) 13 For
he has rescued us out of the darkness and gloom of Satan’s kingdom and brought
us into the kingdom of His dear Son. (Living Bible) CONFESSION: I have been delivered from the authority of darkness. I have been delivered from Satan’s authority and dominion through the Word in Acts 26:18. I am free from Satan’s dominion. Sickness is of the devil. Satan can’t dominate me with sickness and disease. Satan, I’ve been delivered from your authority. You can’t put sickness on me. I have passed out of your jurisdiction over into the kingdom of the Son of God. I am a citizen in the kingdom of Jehovah-Rapha, the Lord that healeth me. I have been transplanted into the kingdom of His Son. Colossians 1 (continued) Verse 14 – In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins … (KJV) 14 …
by whom we have been ransomed from captivity … (Smith-Goodspeed)
14 …
in whom we have our redemption … (Conybeare)
14 In
whom we have our ransoming, the remission of our sins. (Way)
CONFESSION: In Christ Jesus I have redemption. I have been ransomed from captivity. I am delivered from Satan and his works. I am free from sickness and disease! James 4:7 – Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. (KJV) 7 So
then, accept the authority of God. Take a stand against the devil, and he will run away from you. (Barclay)
7 Stand
up to the devil, and he will turn and run. (New English Bible)
7 Stand
immovable against the onset of the devil, and he will flee from you. (Wuest)
7…
be ruled by God; but make war on the Evil One and he will be put to flight before you. (Basic English)
CONFESSION: I submit to God. I submit to the will of God. I accept the authority of God and His Word. I submit to God’s Word. I resist you, devil. I resist disease. You can’t do this to my body. Get out! Remove yourself. You must flee from my body now! James 5:15-16 – And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. Confess your faults one to
another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. (KJV) 15 And
by the prayer of faith the man who is ill will be made well. (Basic English)
15 And
the prayer offered in faith will restore the sufferer to health, and the Lord will raise him from his sick-bed. (Wade)
CONFESSION: The prayer of faith has made me whole. The Lord is raising me up. I cannot stay down. I believe I received when I prayed, and my faith makes me whole. I believe I have received my healing! I Peter 2:24 – Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. (KJV) 24 …
his bruising was your healing. (20th Century)
CONFESSION: By His stripes I was healed. Healing belongs to me. I was healed 2000 years ago by the stripes Jesus bore. By His stripes I was healed. I’m not trying to get healing; I’ve already got my healing, because by His stripes I was healed! I Peter 5:8-9 – 8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: 9 whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. (KJV) 9
You must resist him with a rock-like faith … (Barclay)
9
Stand immovable against his onset, solid as a rock in your faith … (Wuest)
9
… be firm in faith (against his onset) — rooted, established, strong,
immovable and determined … (Amplified) CONFESSION: I stand immovable against sickness in Jesus’ Name. I refuse to accept it! I John 3:8 – He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. (KJV) 8…
The reason the Son of God was made manifest (visible) was to undo (destroy), loosen and dissolve) the works the devil [has done]. (Amplified)
8…
that he might break up the works of the devil. (Young)
8…
and the Son of God was seen on earth so that he might put an end to the works of the Evil One. (Basic English)
8…
that he might neutralize what the Devil has done. (Wand)
8…
that he might bring to naught the works of the devil. (Wuest)
8…
that he might break up the Devil’s doings. (Jordan) To lead a sinful life is to belong to the devil, since the devil was a sinner from the begin8
ning. It was to undo all that the devil has done that the Son of God appeared. (Jerusalem)
Now the Son of God came to the earth with the express purpose of liquidating the devil’s 8
activities. (Phillips) 8…
that He should be annulling the acts of the Adversary. (Concordant)
CONFESSION: Sickness is a work of the devil. Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil. Sickness has been dissolved, broken up, annulled, undone, liquidated as far as I am concerned. Jesus put an end to sickness for me. The activities of the devil have been liquidated. III John 2 – Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth. (KJV) CONFESSION: I am prospering and I am in health even as my soul prospers because it is God’s will for me. God is at work in me to do His will and pleasure. Jehovah-Rapha is at work in me – healing me! Philippians 2:13 – For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. (KJV) CONFESSION: God is at work in me. Jehovah-Rapha is at work in me – healing me. He is the Lord that healeth me. God is greater than the devil. Healing is greater than sickness. God is at work in me – healing me! Mark 16:17-18 – And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents; and if they
drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. (KJV) 17 …
By using my name they will drive out demons … (Williams)
17 These
are the visible demonstrations of the action of God which will accompany the life of those who believe. By using my name they will eject demons …
(Barclay) 17 …
for those who believe, these miracles will follow … (Moffatt)
17 …
with my name they will drive out demons. (Smith-Goodspeed)
17 …
making use of my authority, they shall expel demons. (Weymouth)
17 Wherever 17 By
men believe, these signs will be found … (Translator’s NT)
the use of my name they will expel demons; they will speak rapturously in strange languages … (Wade) 18 They
will place their hands upon invalids, and they will be restored to health.
(Wade)
CONFESSION: The Name of Jesus is greater than sickness. Jesus conquered sickness and disease. In the Name of Him who conquered sin, sickness, and Satan, I command disease to leave my body. Satan, take your hands off my body! I cast you out in Jesus’ Name. You can’t do this to me. In the Name of Jesus, I am free! John 14:12-14 – Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it. (KJV) CONFESSION: There is power in the Name of Jesus! Jesus is the resurrected healing Lord. In the Name of Jesus, I command disease to leave my body. My body is healed in Jesus’ Name. I believe Acts 3:16; that through faith in His Name, my body is perfectly sound. I am healed in Jesus’ Name! Acts 3:16 – And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all. (KJV) CONFESSION: His Name, through faith in His Name, makes me whole, gives me perfect sound-ness, and makes me strong. The Name of Jesus is greater than sickness. All that He is is in His Name. All that He did is in His Name. He is greater than sickness. He
conquered sickness. I speak His Name, Jesus, to my body now. Every disease and germ dies now in Jesus’ Name. My body is made whole in Jesus’ Name! Galatians 2:20 – I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. (KJV) 20 … 20 I
Christ took me to the cross with him, and I died there with him. (Laubach)
have been crucified with Christ … (ASV, NASV, RSV, NEB, NIV)
CONFESSION: I was crucified with Christ. I died with Him to sickness and disease. Christ the Healer lives in me. Healing is in me. Christ in me heals me. John 15:4-5 – Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. (KJV) 4 Get
your life from Me and I will live in you. No branch can give fruit by itself. It has to get life from the vine. You are able to give fruit only when you have life from Me (New Life) 5…
4 You
I am the Vine and you are the branches. Get your life from Me. (New Life)
must go on growing in me and I will grow in you. For just as the branch cannot bear any fruit unless it shares the life of the vine, so you can produce nothing
unless you go on growing in me. I am the vine itself; you are the branches. (Phillips) 5 It
is the man who shares my life and whose life I share who proves fruitful. For the
plain fact is that apart from me you can do nothing at all. (Phillips) CONFESSION: I am in union with Christ. My spirit is in union with Christ the Healer. I draw out His healing power, and it is manifested in my body. I am one with the healing Vine. I am in union with the healing Christ. I have His life and health in me!
FATHER, I PRAISE YOU! THANK YOU FOR HEALING ME!
Reference Materials: Miracle in the Mirror by Nita Edwards Beyond the Veil by Esther Gulhsan Apol. II, Chapter 6) Hermetics, Book I, Chapter 32 Contra Celsum Book III, Chapter 24 Epis. C. XII Creation and Redemption Christlieb - Modern Doubt: History of United Brethren Ministry o f Healing by Dr. Gordon Confession of the Waldenses Wilford Reidt, son-in-law of John G. Lake None of those Diseases, by Dr. S.I. McMillen, Bodily Healing and the Atonement, by T.J. McCrossan
About the Author Tracey Crocker is the Co-Founder of Covenant Chapel Ministries and Covenant House of Tampa, Inc. As a Pastor, Preacher, Bible teacher, prophet, wife and mother she is fueled by a passion to fulfill God’ call on her life, establishing believers in the word of God. Her desire is for the least, the last, the lost and the forgotten to experience the victory Jesus died to give them. Many years ago, finding herself in need of victory, she discovered freedom to live victoriously through God's Word. Her story is one of tragedy and victory, poverty and prosperity. She has dedicated her life to helping others find same Victory through Christ Jesus that she has found, boldly declaring a message of hope and truth. Not afraid to deal with hard, relevant issues, she brings to light the importance of character building by merging spirituality with everyday living provokes people to pursue a life of integrity and excellence. She exhorts and encourages all around her to deepen their intimacy with God in order to fulfill the call on their life. Tracey and her husband, Dr. Cory W. Crocker, were married in June of 2006. They reside in Tampa Florida, and are the parents of four children. Tracey has taught on hundreds of subjects and has written works on Healing and Prayer. She holds a Masters of Divinity degree from Covenant Theological Seminary and is currently working on her Doctorates in Urban Ministry. Pastor Tracey holds membership in the Hillsborough County Homeless Coalition, Sulphur Springs Action League, American Association of Christian Counselors, Extraordinary Women Association and the Noble Order of Chivalry. She is frequently heard saying “if God would let me do anything or go anywhere I would be right here.”