Healing? – Lite (17 min)

Keeping an eternal perspective can be difficult in a world full of ups and downs and too many distractions, not to mention financial and physical challenges. And when we are confronted by concerning issues, we tend to look for solutions we feel we can readily apply. We tend to treat prayer as a last resort. Too often I have momentarily forgotten that my life was in God’s hands. That’s when my precious, God-given, indwelling Holy Spirit reminds me that everything is headed toward a future in the Beloved Trinity! And so I continue to pray for the afflicted, in Jesus’ Name.

As I continue to study the book of Romans, I thought I would just take a moment to celebrate Romans 5:3 and 4 in light of the circumstances of various family members.  I marvel at the work the LORD is doing for His eternal purposes in believers . And as such I will say with Paul and David:

• “We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation.” (Romans 5:3 to 4, New Living Translation).
• “But as for me, I trust in You, O LORD; I say, “You are my God.” My times are in Your hand…” (Psalm 31:14 to 15 B).
• “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6 to 7).

In North America, there has been such an emphasis on the health and wealth assurances of Scripture that many do not consider the full promises which also include problems to overcome.  I wonder whether people who want a relationship with someone only for advantages are losing sight of the true benefit of having a relationship which is to have the affection of the one you are connected to.

For believers who are currently suffering from a health issue, please know that God will heal you in His time and His way even if it looks different than what you would prefer. 

God is faithful and every one of His words is true! The benefit of the relationship with God is fellowship within the Beloved.

Praise God, both the Old and New Testaments teach that God is the Healer.

Origination of Sickness Globally

Scripture, we learn that all ailments have come as a result of corruption in the human species. Even if someone has been able to escape the common cold, or does not have an apparent physical defect, the human body is subject to death. It is written:

• “And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel.” To the woman He said: “I will greatly multiply your sorrow and your conception; In pain you shall bring forth children; …” Then to Adam He said, …”Cursed is the ground for your sake; In toil you shall eat of it all the days of your life.” (Genesis 3:15 to 17 abbreviated).”
• Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned” (Romans 5:12).
• “So also is the resurrection of the dead. The body is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption. It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power. It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.” (1st Corinthians 15:42 to 44).
• “And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment,” (Hebrews 9:27).

So, all of humanity, believer and non-believer will eventually die and the body will endure corruption at differing degrees based on genetic factors, lifestyle, life events and other factors. Two other factors involved in sickness that the bible speaks of are: (1) judgment (Refer to 1st Corinthians 11:30, Acts 12:23), and (2) Satanic origin (Refer to Luke 13:11 to 16).  

But, for the believer, we have the living hope, and we pray, in Jesus’ Name.

Onset of Sickness Individually

I have heard a few believers attribute sickness to either the enemy of our souls or even our respective historic lifestyles. While these can be the reasons, it is unscriptural to believe Satan, judgment or past lifestyle are the sole reasons for illness or trials.  In the life of a believer, everything (including illness and healing) that occurs in life is filtered through God’s sovereign will for His purposes and the believer’s good.   The LORD may allow affliction but He will set the limits. For it is written:

• “And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” (2nd Corinthians 12:7 to 10).
• “And the LORD said to Satan, “Behold, he is in your hand, but spare his life.” So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD, and struck Job with painful boils from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head.” (Job 2:6 to 7). 

When I consider that God confronted Moses about His Sovereignty over His creation, I realize that God’s purposes may not be known to a person.

• “So the LORD said to him, “Who has made man’s mouth? Or who makes the mute, the deaf, the seeing, or the blind? Have not I, the LORD?” (Exodus 4:11).
• “But indeed, O man, who are you to reply against God? Will the thing formed say to him who formed it, “Why have you made me like this?” (Romans 9:20).
• “However, we speak wisdom among those who are mature, yet not the wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory, which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.” (1st Corinthians 2:6 to 10).

Christ who never sinned and had perfect faith was tested in every way a human can be tested.  Hebrews 4:15

Do I believe in Divine healing and intervention on earth? Absolutely! 

• “For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.” (Colossians 1:16 to 17 ).

This is why I pray, in Jesus’ Name. I also fully support the following Scripture and affirm its context.

• “For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: “Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth”; who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but COMMITTED Himself TO HIM WHO JUDGES RIGHTEOUSLY; who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness, by whose stripes you were healed. For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.” (1st Peter 2:21 to 25).

Yes, Christ’s death and resurrection conquered sin and death so that we can have eternal life. And until then, we all must still die unless caught up (or raptured). Yes, by His stripes we are healed. The primary healing was the rebirth (the delivering the believer from death to life). As such, all believers will be eternally healed with our resurrected bodies.  

Some may receive healing before death, but then will eventually die (like Lazarus). Others may be permitted by God’s Sovereign will to endure physical problems like Paul (Galatians 4:13, Galatians 6:11) and Timothy (who suffered from stomach ailments, 1st Timothy 5:23). I believe both of these early church leaders had incredibly strong faith. Yet their faith did not overcome God’s will for their lives. Even Trophimus who was helping Paul with the ministry was left sick (2nd Timothy 4:20). We know the Apostle Paul exercised the gift of healing on some occasions. Why didn’t he exercise it for Trophimus if it is God’s will for everyone to be healed? But God healed Epaphroditus who also worked with Paul (Philippians 2:25 to 27).

All believers will be healed according to God’s will one day.

• “And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” (Revelation 21:4).
• “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:1 to 2).

Some believers focus mainly on earthly prosperity. I have no comments to make relative to these believers’ outlook because if someone professes and possesses Christ, then they are my sibling in the LORD. It is the Holy Spirit’s sanctifying work in a believer to reveal the WORD that the Father and the Son wills. Each walk of faith must be completed by the individual with the body of Christ. So, we preach the full council of Scripture and allow the Holy Spirit to guide and teach in His time and in His way. We must have longsuffering grace because Christ is in us through the Holy Spirit and the love of God confers us to this.

I believe in every gift Scripture provides for, and I believe they are subject to God’s will (which believers are encouraged to seek). As it is written:

• “But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.” (1st Corinthians 12:11).

For those who have trouble reconciling what transpired when Christ walked the earth physically, please consider this. The miracles of Christ and the disciples were performed with the intent purpose of:   

• (1) proving His credentials to an unbelieving world since He had to fulfill what was prophesied about Him in Old Testament Scriptures concerning His healing abilities (Psalms 146:8, Isaiah 29:18, Luke 4:18, Luke 7:21 to 22, John 2:23, John 3:1 to 2, John 11:4, Matthew 8:16 to 17); and,

• (2) teaching that it is important to know and believe God is a rewarder of the faith that agrees with His will (John 15). He has individual purposes for individual people. Just as God had a will for Jesus Christ which included His torture, ridicule, suffering, and death, the Father had willed Christ’s resurrection too. The resurrection promise has been God-foreordained for all believers! God has promised to perfect His children through whatever means He chooses.
• “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:10).
• “The LORD will perfect that which concerns me; Your mercy, O LORD, endures forever ….” (Psalm 138:8).

Let us also remember that Jesus did not heal on demand (Matthew 12:38 to 40, Luke 23:8 to 9).  

Although God does not promise to supernaturally heal everyone, it is perfectly proper to pray and ask Him that He will do so. The Bible encourages us to ask God for things but not that our faith forces God to do something. (Refer to James 4:2).

Jesus taught that the smallest amount of faith in God can work miracles. So, it does not take incredible amounts of faith to perform a miracle.

Let’s look at the context of this.

• “The apostles said to the Lord, “Show us how to increase our faith.” The Lord answered, “If you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘May you be uprooted and thrown into the sea,’ and it would obey you! “When a servant comes in from plowing or taking care of sheep, does his master say, ‘Come in and eat with me’? No, he says, ‘Prepare my meal, put on your apron, and serve me while I eat. Then you can eat later.’ And does the master thank the servant for doing what he was told to do? Of course not. In the same way, when you obey me you should say, ‘We are unworthy servants who have simply done our duty.'” (Luke 17:5 to 10, New Living Translation).

Here are some other cross-references related to mustard seed faith:  Matthew 17:20 to 21, Matthew 21:21, Mark 9:23, Mark 11:22 to 23, and 1st Corinthians 13:2.    I encourage you to read the full context and focus on what the passage is teaching. Remember, Christ is saying that if you have the smallest amount of faith, all is possible. 

So, I do not believe that striving to have more faith is the point of these texts. What does Christ want His disciples to know about having faith in God? It is also written:

• But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for the one who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek him (Hebrews 11:6).

God wants us to have growing faith in HIM that is substantiated by the Word and within relational prayer.

• “But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good; abstain from every form of evil. Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass.” (1st Thessalonians 5:21 to 24 New American Standard Bible, 95).

There are different types of faith (for example saving faith or faith for miracles, etcetera). For Christians, all faith is a gift from the Holy Spirit (1st Corinthians 12:9). During these last days, there will be lying miracles intending to deceive.  (Revelation 13:14; Revelation 16:14; Revelation 19:20; 2nd Thessalonians 2:9 to 12).

You see, God intends for all of His children to be completely healed in His time, in His way, and for His purpose which may look very different than what we desire. He does want us to persist in asking because this brings us closer to Him; it’s a relationship and we must talk about what concerns us.  

The question is, can you love and obey God if He doesn’t do things your way?

Unbelief Versus Little Faith

Now let’s consider unbelief. The following Scripture is frequently quoted to demonstrate that a lack of faith is preventing healing.

• “Now He did not do many mighty works there because of their unbelief.” (Matthew 13:58).

Let’s look at the context:

• “When He had come to His own country, He taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished and said, “Where did this Man get this wisdom and these mighty works? “Is this not the carpenter’s son? Is not His mother called Mary? And His brothers James, Joses, Simon, and Judas? “And His sisters, are they not all with us? Where then did this Man get all these things?” So they were offended at Him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honour except in his own country and in his own house.” Now He DID NOT DO many mighty works there because of their unbelief.” (Matthew 13:54 to 58).

This is a refusal to believe that Jesus is the Son of God. And Jesus still performed some mighty works but He would not do many because the purpose of His works was to point to God’s gift of redemption, His payment atonement for their sin by His perfect, sinless blood on the cross as the Lamb of God. Those people were not yet called by the Father to believe (because faith is a gift of God’s grace).

Let’s look at it from Mark:

• “Now He COULD DO NO mighty work there, except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them. And He marvelled because of their unbelief. Then He went about the villages in a circuit, teaching.” (Mark 6:5 to 6).

Let’s take a look at a small word study for Mark 6:5 and Matthew 13:58. I like to make distinctions, but we must be certain about the ones we make. The phrase “did not do” and “could not do” are the same Greek words; and, as such these phrases should not be distinguished in the same way as they would be in the English language. No man comes to the Father unless the Father draws Him so Christ will not do (or can not) violate His Father’s will. They are ONE, perfectly united in ALL THINGS. The Son is the image of God. (Refer to John 6:37, 44, and 65, John 8:42, John 14:23).

So, with the full counsel of Scripture and in its proper context, I am comforted knowing that my Loving Father holds my days in His hands and that their number was appointed from before I was born.

• “Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?” (Luke 12:25 New Living Translation).
• “Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, The days fashioned for me, When as yet there were none of them.” (Psalm 139:16).

You may not share my conclusions but if you are a believer you must agree with Scripture. So, worrying about my length of days is not only futile, it’s a waste of time, a waste of an opportunity to rejoice in my Saviour. Of course, suffering is not enjoyable! Certainly, many of us have had or are still enduring unwanted difficulties. So, we pray in Jesus’ name. We do not pray just to get what we want; we pray because we enjoy the presence of Lord.

And, with this hope, let us also encourage each other to look past the current trouble so that we can rejoice in what is to come. Think of the way that parents (especially women) look forward to the birth of a child while enduring the pain of growth, labour and delivery. So, I leave you with these Scriptures from the New Living Translation:

• “And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.” (Philippians 4:8).
• “Whatever happens, my dear brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord. I never get tired of telling you these things, and I do it to safeguard your faith.” (Philippians 3:1).
• “Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying.” (Romans 12:12).
• “For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever!” (2nd Corinthians 4:17).

Family of God, call out to our Father, in Jesus’ name. He longs to talk with you today.

Friends, if you have not committed to following Jesus Christ, you still have time to call on His name. Simply acknowledge you are a sinner (like all of us) and ask for forgiveness. Ask the Father to reveal Jesus, His Son, to you. Tell Him you are willing to make Him the LORD of your life by following Christ’s teachings. There is eternal life, physical and emotional healing, in Jesus’ name.

All Scripture quoted in the blog is from the New King James Version unless otherwise specified.