Are you sick for
the glory of God?
Do you think your
sickness is a “thorn in the flesh”?
Do you feel your
sickness may be a penalty for some unknown sin?
Do you feel you
may be among those whom God is chastening? Have you been taught that God
heals some but it is His will for others to remain sick?
Have you heard it
said that God answers all prayers -- some He answers “Yes,”some He answers “No,”
and some He answers “Wait”?
Then your failure
to receive healing through prayer may be like the failure of many other sincere
Christians, the result of WAVERING FAITH. Like them, you may try again and again
to believe God for your healing but just when healing seemsto be within your
grasp, suddenly you find yourself wondering whether God will really do it.
Many born-again
Christians, who are living sincerely and wholeheartedly for God, are sick and
even remain sick after having been prayed for, for healing. This may be due to
some misconception in regard to the teachings of God’s Word. They have not been
able to understand that God promises healing to ALL that ask in faith. They do
not realize the extent of God’s great guarantee of healing. Because of this
misconception, they have WAVERINGLY asked.
God says, “Let
him ask in faith, NOTHING WAVERING. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the
sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall
receive anything of the Lord.” James 1:6, 7.
Often these
people come for prayer with their minds made up that they DO believe, and that
they will NOT waver in faith, but when they face the situation, they find their
faith wavers. They say, “I really thought I was going to be healed this time,
but I just can’t seem to have enough faith.
These people
really have faith, but their faith is made to waver by the entrance into their
minds of misconceptions regarding the Word of God, which have commonly been
taught for doctrines, but which really cannot be proven by the Word of God.
These are traditions of men that make “the Word of God of none effect,” Mark
7:13 to the person who heeds them.
Jesus said of
those who taught in this way, “In vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrine
the commandments of men.” Mark 7:7, Matt. 15:9. God has promised healing to His
people, but those who profess to be His ministers have told the people that He
didn’t mean what He said!
It is important
both to your faith as an individual Christian and to the success of your
ministry, should you be called to minister, that you believe God’s Word as it is
written. Also to teach the truth of God’s Word pure and unadulterated by the
idea of those who before you have made excuses for their unbelief by wresting
and twisting the Word of God. “Even as our beloved brother Paul also according
to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; As also in all his epistles,
speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be
understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also
the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.” 2 Peter 3:15, 16.
These
misconceptions in regard to healing have been built up over many years by those
who form their ideas from the ideas of others rather than by going to God’s Word
for their doctrines.
A young woman
sets out to make a patchwork quilt using an accurately drawn pattern. After
cutting the first block, she lays aside the pattern and uses the cut pieces for
a pattern. When all the blocks are finished, they won’t fit together because the
last blocks are so different from the first. Even so, doctrines built by
comparison with other doctrines soon fall far short of the original pattern, the
Word of God.
Take God’s Word
and read it carefully for yourself as though you had never heard a sermon. Read
especially the four Gospels with your mind open and attuned to the teaching of
the Holy Spirit. Mark particularly the passages describing Christ’s healings and
miracles. You will be surprised at what you find in the original pattern. Go
from the Gospels into the Epistles in the same manner. Such a reading of God’s
Word will revolutionize your life and your faith.
The
misconceptions in regard to healing mentioned at the beginning of this lesson
are not harmless variations in doctrine. Instead they are tricks devised by
Satan himself to deprive God’s people of blessings purchased at Calvary and at
the whipping post, and to deprive God of the glory that he would receive from
the fulfillment of His promises. They are slander against the character of God,
for God having promised, is true to His Word.
“God is not a
man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he
said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?”
Num. 23:19
MANY HAVE THE
IDEA THAT SOME ARE SICK FOR THE GLORY OF GOD!
This is the most
prominent misconception regarding healing. Many are taught that they are sick
for the glory of God. This teaching is based upon two misinterpreted incidents
in the ministry of Christ.
1. Consider the
Death of Lazarus.
The sickness of
Lazarus has often been referred to as for the glory of God and is based upon the
following Scripture: When Jesus was told that Lazarus was sick, He replied:
“This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God
might be glorified thereby.” John 11:4.
When Jesus
finally came to Bethany, and was met by the sisters of Lazarus, He certainly was
not met with praise, nor were they glorifying God nor His Son. The Son of God
was glorified WHEN LAZARUS CAME FORTH FROM THE TOMB. (Verse 44.)
Lazarus was
raised for the glory of God! -- not sick for the glory of God!
2. Look at the
Man Born Blind.
In this case,
some of Jesus’ disciples questioned Him concerning a man born blind, whether the
man had sinned or his parents. (Note: This is an example of the attitude of that
time regarding the relationship between sin and sickness.) Jesus answered,
“Neither hath this man sinned nor his parents: but that the works of God should
be made manifest in him.” John 9:3.
This does not infer that neither this man nor his parents had ever committed a sin, for we are told “All have sinned and come short of the glory of God;” Rom. 3:23. Rather, this blindness, which was unusual, was not a direct punishment of unusual sin.
If this man was
blind for God’s glory, then Jesus was working against the glory of God, for He
gave sight that day to the man who was born blind. This man’s blindness was not
in itself a glory to God. Rather his blindness was an occasion for the works of
God to be made manifest in him. God was glorified when those who had known him
to have been born blind, saw that suddenly he was able to see.
IF YOU ARE SICK
FOR GOD’S GLORY, THEN LET GOD BE GLORIFIED NOW BY ACCEPTING HEALING FROM HIM,
and witnessing to all about you of the mighty power of God, who delivers all
those who trust in Him!
CHASTENED BY
SICKNESS
A young woman
came in to one of our meetings in Idaho wearing a heavy body brace. For more
than a year, she had been under the doctor’s orders to lift nothing and to move
about very carefully. She had been in a serious automobile accident causing
injury to her spine. The doctor had told her she might have to wear the brace
the rest of her life.
This young woman was a minister of the Gospel. She had preached divine healing and prayed for many who had been healed, yet she was persuaded in her own mind that she could not be healed because she felt certain that the accident had occurred because she was moving out of the will of God. She based her belief upon the Scripture found in Hebrews 12:6 -- “For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.”
She attended an
afternoon Faith Clinic Service where that same Scripture was used as the text.
The minister began pointing out that while affliction or trouble may come upon
Christians as punishment for disobedience or sin, a loving Father does not
punish His child more severely than is needed for that child’s crime or
misbehavior. Even though such sickness may come as penalty for sin, heartfelt
repentance removes the reason for punishment. Thus it is not necessary for any
Christian to remain sick. God has provided repentance not only as a means to
salvation but as a means to staying saved, and as a means to qualify for all
God’s blessings.
“If we confess
our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from
all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9. This was not written to people who had never
been born again but to those who, having begun a Christian life, still fall
short occasionally of the life of sinless perfection which Is God’s ideal for
His people.
What a joy it was
to that young woman to re-establish her fellowship with God, humbly repenting of
her disobedience. How happy she was in the service that night to report that she
had not only removed the brace but had gone back to her room, moved a heavy
typewriter, carried her suitcases to the car, and was ready to go back on the
field to preach the Gospel. Her healing was a great blessing but her renewed
fellowship with God was greater.
Yes, you may be
punished and chastened, but God will never punish without letting you know what
He is punishing you for, and He will not continue to punish when the need for
punishment is over.
“The Lord is
merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy. He will not always
chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever. He bath not dealt with us after
our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.” Psalms 103:8-10.
“JESUS CHRIST THE
SAME YESTERDAY, AND TODAY, AND FOR EVER.” Heb. 13:8.
Not once in all
His earthly ministry did Jesus ever command any person to be sick, although He
commanded many to be well, and healed them with His Word. Not once did a sick
person come to Him asking to be healed and receive the answer, “It is God’s will
for you to remain sick for His glory.”
“Jesus Christ the
same yesterday, and today, and for ever.” Heb. 13:8. Then it is inconceivable
that while He was here on earth He glorified the Father by healing “all manner
of sickness and all manner of disease among the people,” Matt. 4:23, but now
having gone back to the Father, He is glorified by the people remaining patient
in affliction, declaring to all whom they meet that this sickness is an evidence
of the love of God toward them.
No wonder those
who are not Christians, are not interested in sharing such love!
Nowhere in the
Scripture are we told that God answers prayer by saying, “No.” “Beloved, if our
heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God. And whatsoever we ask,
we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that
are pleasing in his sight.” I John 3:21, 22.
This does not say
that part of our prayers are answered “No.” The wording is “Whatsoever we ask we
receive.” We do not ask for bread and receive a stone; we do not ask for an egg
and receive a scorpion. (Luke 11:11-13). We do not ask for healing and receive
sickness; for deliverance and receive bondage.
Search the
Gospels! You will find no instance where Christ ever told one who came to Him
for healing to wait -- to come back later. If He, then, is just the same today,
how can He tell people today to wait?
SICKNESS -- A
PENALTY FOR SIN
Nowhere in the
Word of God is sickness declared to be an evidence of God’s favor. Rather, it is
a penalty for sin.
“If thou wilt not
observe to do all the words of this law that are written in this book, that thou
mayest fear this glorious and fearful name, THE LORD THY GOD: Then the LORD will
make thy plagues wonderful, and the plagues of thy seed, even great plagues, and
of bug continuance, and sore sicknesses, and of long continuance. Moreover he
will bring upon thee all the diseases of Egypt, which thou wast afraid of; and
they shall cleave unto thee. 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.” Deut. 28:58-61.
The reward of
obedience is health and healing. “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.” Exodus 15:26.
WILLINGNESS FOR
GOD’S WILL
A glaring
inconsistency in those who hold the view that sickness may be the will of God,
is that, while they do not come to God for healing, they seem to feel no qualms
of conscience in doing all that is humanly possible to ease pain and restore
Suppose I should
say to you, “I am laboring in this city for the glory of God. It is God’s will
for me to labor here, but I will stay only until I can somehow find a way to get
away from here. I’m leaving just as soon as I can earn, beg or borrow the price
of a bus ticket to take me away. I know it is God’s will for me to be here, but
He can keep me here only by making it impossible for me to leave!” These good
people would be horrified, and would doubtless accuse me of being rebellious
against God. Nevertheless, they say they are sick for God’s glory, yet it is
very apparent by their expenditures for doctors and medicines that they will
remain that way only so long as it is impossible for them to make themselves
well. Is not this inconsistent?
(Please note: It
was not I nor God’s Word which declared that sickness is God’s will for His
people.)
Sickness is NOT the will of God for His people. It is the work of the devil. It is the will of God for His people to “prosper and be in health,” 3 John 2. Therefore, let us come to God without wavering, in full assurance that we are asking in His will.
“And this is the
confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask anything according to his will,
he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that
we have the petitions that we desired of him.” 1 John 5:14, 15.
A woman suffering
with cancer called a well-known minister to pray for her. When he entered the
room she declared, “It may be that God has given me this cancer for his glory.
Perhaps, through this cancer my son may be won to Christ.” Her lack of faith was
obvious. After consideration, the minister replied, “Then, if God has given you
this cancer and is being glorified by it and a soul is to be saved through it,
perhaps we should not ask God to remove it. Perhaps we should ask God to give
you more cancers so that more souls can be saved.” Needless to say, the woman
was angry at this suggestion. She had not thought the matter through to a
conclusion.
Please bear in
mind that Christ died for the sins of the entire world, once for all. His
suffering on the cross -- not your suffering with a cancer -- is the means of
the salvation of souls. Nowhere in Scripture do we find an example of God
placing sickness upon one of his obedient servants. Sickness may, indeed, come
as a curse upon the lawless and disobedient. (See Deut. 28:22, 28 and 61.)
This Scripture
deals with the curses of the law, but remember, only those who have come under
grace by accepting Christ and living by the Spirit have escaped from the curses
of the law. (See Rom. 8:2—8.)
SCRIPTURES ABE
MISQUOTED IN AN ATTEMPT TO PROVE SICKNESS IS THE WILL OF GOD.
Those who insist
that some are sick because it is the will of God strengthen their position by
quoting as examples a few cases in Scripture that they feel are circumstantial
evidence. Such evidence has to be accepted only “with reservations” in any court
of law.
Then, under
careful examination, these cases break down, even as circumstantial evidence.
THE CASE OF JOB
AND HIS BOILS
Let us consider
the matter of Job and his boils. According to the testimony of God Himself, Job
was a perfect and upright man, in that he “feareth God, and escheweth evil,” Job
1:8. No divinity or superhuman perfection is attributed to Job. Any Christian
can and should be at least as perfect as was Job, for our opportunities,
privileges and powers are far ahead of his. And Jesus Himself left us the
commandment to be “perfect even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect,”
Matt. 5:48.
No Christian is
in the will of God, nor in a position to seek healing, who is satisfied with
being anything less than perfect. Though we may need to say with Paul, “Not as
though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after,”
Phil. 3:12a. Let us keep this goal constantly before us, and earnestly “press
toward the mark” at all times as it says in verse 14a.
Never make
excuses for imperfections. PERFECTION IS THE GOAL.
God accounted Job
as perfect, because he sincerely feared God and eschewed (shunned, found no
pleasure in doing) evil. However, a careful study of the book of Job will reveal
to the thoughtful person that there were reasons enough in Job himself for his
trouble being allowed to come upon him. God does not submit His faithful and
beloved follower to be tortured by Satan for no better reason than merely to
prove a point to the devil. True enough, Job’s faithfulness WAS proved, and
Satan’s boast proved empty, but a far greater issue than that was involved in
the trial of Job. This book indicates that even a perfect man can be made
better.
First, let us
note that while Job was commended for his fear of God (Job 1:8), this was not
Job’s only fear. When he found that he was bereft of family and possessions,
suffering in body, scorned by his wife, misunderstood and accused by his
friends, he cried out, “The thing which I GREATLY FEARED is come upon me.” Job
3:25.
FEAR IS NOT FAITH:
Faith is our protection against sin and sickness, and
when these enemies lay hold upon us, faith is our
only means of deliverance. Satan saw it as a hedge round about Job, through
which he could not penetrate, but fear, being opposed to faith, makes an opening
in the hedge through which Satan may enter. Job is not to be condemned for his
attitude, for he had not the Scriptures as we have today. His knowledge of God
and his dealings came only from oral tradition and from an incomplete direct
personal revelation of God. (Note: Job is generally recognized as the
first-written book of the Bible.)
FAITH COMETH BY HEARING:
Since faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by
the Word of God, it is little wonder that Job should have failed to have faith
sufficient to protect him from Satan’s attack. Having God’s glorious promises so
easily accessible, let us grasp them by faith and step forth into the glorious
liberty of the sons of God, rather than remain grubbing in Job’s ash heap for an
excuse to remain in bondage to sickness and the oppression of Satan.
God did not
afflict Job. Job. 2:7: --“Satan . . . smote Job with sore boils. Even
JOB’S REPENTANCE
AND NEW RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD.
In his
desperation, Job examined his attitude toward God, and through the struggles of
his soul, he found a new relationship with God. True, he had feared God and
striven to do right and avoid evil. But now, when his wife urged him to curse
God and die (Job 2:9) and his friends accused him of every kind of sin (even
calling those sins by name), Job discovered that only one thing remained a firm
anchor in his fast-changing world. In his anguish he cried, “Though he slay me,
yet will I trust in him:” Job 13:15. God could not disregard such faith as that.
Immediately God began to work toward Job’s deliverance. He revealed Himself to
Job in such a glorious flash of splendor as has seldom been equaled in His
dealings with any one man. In the light of this revelation, Job had a fine
opportunity to compare his own righteousness with that of his Maker, and found
himself to be sadly lacking. He approached God then, not in a spirit of
self-righteousness, but in true humility and repentance (Job 42:6) mixed with
faith. He was even willing to pray for the deliverance of his accusers, and “the
Lord turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends:” Job 42:10.
But the most
beautiful part of the whole story is found in the concluding verses
If you have been
following Job’s example, sitting in the ash heap bemoaning
CASES IN THE
MINISTRY OF PAUL
The enemies of
the Gospel of Healing have attempted to point out that if an example can be
found of one who was a true child of God, whom God could not or would not heal,
no guarantee can be given that God will heal all who meet the conditions. Seeing
beforehand this attempt to discredit His work, the Lord has carefully shown us
in His Word the REASONS why those sicknesses persisted for a while, even in the
presence of the mighty miracle-working powers of Christ and also in the first
disciples with whom Christ worked, “confirming the word with signs following.”
Mark 16:20.
In this regard we
will deal briefly with the cases often mentioned, having to do with the ministry
of Paul by whose hands God wrought special miracles (Acts 19:11, 12). Not only
those whom be touched were healed, but even men and women who were hindered from
contacting him personally were healed of diseases and delivered from evil
spirits, when handkerchiefs or aprons were brought to them from Paul’s body.
The Case of
Epaphroditus
We are told that
Paul’s fellow soldier and companion in labor, Epaphroditus, became sick while in
the company of Paul, and was nigh unto death. In fact, these are Paul’s own
words (Phil. 2:27). However, Paul does not stop here, but in the same verse
declares that “God had mercy on him,” so that he was able to make the long
journey from Rome to Philippi, despite the difficulty of such a journey in those
times, showing the Philippians by his presence the greatness of the power and
love of God in his behalf. Not only this, but in verse 30, Paul explains the
reason for the sickness. “Because for the work of Christ he was nigh unto death,
not regarding his life, to supply your lack of service toward me.”
The gifts of
healing do not guarantee an unlimited supply of strength and energy to the human
body. It is possible even in so worthy a work as carrying the Gospel and praying
for the sick, to tax the body beyond what God has made it able to endure,
bringing sickness as a result. Even in a case like this God shows Himself
merciful, and, while a period of absolute rest or convalescence, may be
required, there is no need to be permanently defeated because of a nervous
breakdown or other illness caused by overwork.
The Case of
Luke, the Physician, Traveling with Paul
We are told that
even Paul had his private physician --Luke -- who traveled with him to watch
after his health. It is true that Luke had been trained as a physician (Col.
4:14). However, there is as much reason to declare that Jesus took Matthew with
Him as His private tax collector, as to assert that Luke was chosen to go with
Paul because of his skill as a physician. There is no record in the Scripture
that Luke ever treated either Paul or any sick person in any place that they
visited, in the capacity of a physician. Only once is his being a physician
mentioned. As author of the books of Luke and Acts, he records many miraculous
healings. It is noteworthy that every one of them is recorded as one hundred
percent miraculous. Never once is it recorded that either Luke or any other
physician applied any medical aid to supplement to the miracle-working power of
God. No doubt, Luke, being a physician, was especially impressed with the ease
with which Christ and His Spirit-filled disciples relieved diseases that the
physicians had spent much time and effort trying in vain to heal. In fact, it is
Luke who records that “a woman baying an issue of blood twelve years, WHICH HAD
SPENT ALL HER LIVING UPON PHYSICIANS, NEITHER COULD BE HEALED OF ANY; Came
behind him, and touched the border of his garment: and immediately her issue of
blood-stanched.” Luke 8:43,44.
No doubt it is
true that faithful physicians have relieved much human suffering,
IF YOU ARE SICK,
START TODAY TO EXAMINE YOURSELF ACCORDING TO THE WORD OF GOD. Find what He says
to do and DO IT. These treatments are not in the experimental stage. They are
tried and proven - unconditionally guaranteed to be one hundred percent
effective when used according to instructions.
The Case of
Paul’s Thorn in the Flesh
As a final proof
that God denies nearing to some, they quote, “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. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart
from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength
is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my
infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” 2 Cor. 12:7- 9.
Whatever Paul’s
thorn may have been, God’s grace was surely sufficient for him, for the list of
his achievements and sufferings given in 2 Cor. 11:23-28 would certainly be a
sufficient test of grace. Yet to say that Paul’s thorn was a physical defect
would certainly require some backing beyond what is found in this passage of
Scripture, for sickness is not mentioned. The strongest advocates of the idea
that the thorn was a physical weakness dare not go further than to say, “It has
been conjectured that Paul’s thorn in the flesh was chronic ophthalmia.”
(Schofield Bible, Page 1239) (Severe inflammation of the eyes.)
Surely in the
face of the glorious promises of healing given boldly in the Word of God,
something stronger than a mere conjecture that Paul was sick should be required
to cancel such strong promises.
The term “thorn
in the flesh” has been so commonly connected in our thinking with sickness that
it has come to have that meaning to many readers of Scripture, but let us
examine its use in other Scriptures, to see if that was the thought of the
writer.
In Numbers 33:55, the Israelites were warned, “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.” This warning is repeated in Joshua 23:13 and in Judges 2:3. Thus the thorn refers, not to something within the body, but to annoyances from without, caused by people. Paul speaks of his particular thorn as being “the messenger of Satan to buffet me.”
The word “buffet” means to strike as with the hand; to contend with.
In the list of
the infirmities in which Paul chooses to glory (2 Cor. 11:23-33), there is no
sickness, nor blindness mentioned, but rather persecutions. He does mention
weariness and painfulness, but would not beatings, stonings, hunger, and cold be
sufficient cause for weariness and painfulness?
After reviewing
the list of Paul’s sufferings and accomplishments, would it not require more
faith in the miraculous to believe that he was carried through all these things
while suffering from physical illness, than to believe that he was kept in
health by the power of God?
Careful
consideration of the words used by Paul, by comparing those words with their
accepted definition and the manner in which they are used in other Scriptures,
would indicate that Paul’s thorn in the flesh was something from without,
probably his treatment by other persons or another person. His reference to
“buffeting” would refer more easily to the beatings, stonings, and the like
which he received after he preached the Gospel from city to city, than to any
possible sickness in his own body. Added to this is the fact that in Paul’s own
writings are found many of the tremendous promises of healing.
“To another the
gifts of healing by the same Spirit;” 1 Cor. 12:9. “And God hath set some In the
church,.. then gifts of healings.” 1 Cor. 12:28. “Have all the gifts of
healing?” 1 Cor. 12:30.
It was Paul
himself who declared, “God is no respecter of persons:” Acts 10:34. His promises
are YOURS! Let no man beguile you.
Every one of
these misconceptions has been used by Satan for generations to hinder or destroy
the faith of God’s people. Faith, in its simplest definition, is just this:
believing that God meant what he says! When the doubts created in your mind by
these misconceptions, and those resulting from willful disobedience to his
commands, have been cleared away, then you will find, it easy to come to God in
faith, nothing wavering.
“Let us draw near
with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from
an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the
profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)”
Heb. 10:22,23.
BELIEVE THE WORD
OF GOD, AND NOT THE TRADITIONS THAT HAVE BEEN BUILT UP ABOUT IT.
As the flame of
your faith is made to burn brightly, no longer wavering, you may ask God
WHATSOEVER HE HAS PROMISED! It shall be done unto you!
SUMMARY:
So then, we have learned that there are many misconceptions concerning healing which hinder our faith. We must ask in faith, nothing wavering, to obtain results. These misconceptions are:
(1) Sick for the
glory of God. This teaching is based on two incidents from the Bible -- the
raising of Lazarus and the account of the man born blind. Neither glorified God
through the actual sickness, but the sickness was used for the glory of God --
Lazarus when he was raised from the dead; the blind man when Jesus restored his
sight.
If you are sick
for God’s glory, then let God be glorified NOW by accepting heating from Him,
and witnessing to all about you of the mighty power of God, who delivers all
those who trust in Him!
(2) Sickness can
be a chastening or punishment from God, but we can still claim healing by
repenting and restoring our fellowship with God. God will never punish without
letting us know what it is for and will not continue to punish when we have
learned our lesson.
(3) Jesus Christ
is the same yesterday, and today, and forever. He always answers our prayers. He
never says “No’s nor “Wait” when we ask for healing, in faith, as it is always
His will to heal. Be sure you’re asking is in faith, and there is no question as
to the answer!
(4) Sickness is a
penalty for sin but it is not God’s will for His people. It is not an evidence
of God’s favor. It is a curse from the Lord. It is a glaring inconsistency that
those who claim that sickness may be the will of God for some, do all they
possibly can by human effort to ease pain and restore health. If sickness were
the will of God for them, should they try to escape it?
Only those who
are under grace have escaped from the curses of the Law.
(5) To try to
prove that sickness is the will of God, some have used the following cases:
(a) Job and his
boils: Job was a perfect man; any Christian can be as perfect as Job was; our
privileges far surpass his. God permitted Job to be afflicted by Satan. Job had
feared, and the thing he had feared had come upon him. Fear is not faith. Job
changed his attitude and found a new relationship with God. “Though he slay me,
yet will I trust in Him:” Job 13:15, showed a kind of faith God could not
disregard. Job found the cause of his sickness and God set him free. Then Job
was better off than he was in the beginning.
(b) Cases in the
ministry of Paul: Epaphroditus: He became sick but God had mercy on him,” Phil.
2:27, and healed him. Rest or convalescence may sometimes be required. It is
possible to overtax the body even in the work of the Lord. Luke, the Physician:
He traveled with Paul but there is no statement in scripture that he was with
Paul in the capacity of a physician.
(c) Case of
Paul’s thorn in the flesh: Whatever his thorn in the flesh was, it is plain from
a study of the Word that it was not sickness -- perhaps his treatment by an
individual or individuals acting in the capacity of Satan’s messenger. It was
surely something from the outside, not a bodily illness that was his “thorn”
although the Scriptures do not say definitely just what it was.
(6) We should
believe the Word of God and not the traditions that have been built up around
it. Satan has used all these misconceptions for generations to keep God’s people
from claiming what is rightfully theirs. We can ask God for WHATSOEVER HE
PROMISED and it shall be done, for “He is faithful that promised.”
WHEN THE DOUBTS
CAUSED BY THESE MISCONCEPTIONS HAVE BEEN CLEARED AWAY, IT IS