Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth. 3 John 1:2 Lesson #23 GODS PLAN FOR RADIANT HEALTH God created man with good health. It was never His intention that any man, woman, or child should be sick, languish in pain, suffer, or die. Doubting Gods love and disbelieving His word led Eve to reject Gods authority. Death was the result. Let no man be deceived into thinking that sin, sickness, sorrow, suffering, and death are but the figments of human imagination. They are very real and should be faced realistically. Only the remedy provided by God can cure permanently! Let us look now at Gods cure for (1) sin, (2) death, and (3) sickness. 1 - WHAT IS GODS PROVISION FOR SIN AND DEATH? (Christ redeems us from the curse (Galatians 3:13) by giving us grace to walk in the newness of life (Romans 6:4). When Jesus took the sinners place, His blood atoned for mans sin, but man must be born again and grow up unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ (Ephesians 4:13). Christians must be Christianized. This is the function of the Spirit working within the Christian. God also provides a way of escape from death. Since Christ died for us (Romans 5:8), we need not perish in the final conflagration. Although the gospel does not save us from the first death, Christ does save us from the second death (Revelation 20:6). Ezekiel 33:11- As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live. John 3:16- For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish. but have everlasting life. It is the privilege of every reader of these lines to escape the second death. If you have not yet made this surrender, will you not kneel right now and offer this simple prayer to God? Psalm 51:10- Create in me a clean heart, 0 God; and renew a right spirit within me. 2 - WHAT PROVISION IS MADE FOR SICKNESS? Remember, now, God wants us to enjoy good health. He is not the cause of sickness or death, and should not be blamed for either. 3 John 2- Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth. Lamentations 3:33- He doth not afflict willingly nor grieve the children of men. He does bring good out of our afflictions if we let Him. Hebrews 12:11- Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peace able fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. We must always remember that Satan often afflicts men. Men also bring suffering upon themselves by sinning against the laws of the body. Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap (Galatians 6:7). We need also to be reminded that some are born with a richer heritage of health than others. The sins of our forefathers are felt by us-as the law of God says, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation (Exodus 20:5). Remember, too, that God has the power to heal our diseases. We read in Psalm 103:3: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases. Sickness, suffering, and death are the common lot of all. Our own violation of Gods moral and physical laws increases our difficulties and hastens death. Yet, in mercy, God heals us. At times God heals supernaturally. When Jesus was on earth He often left an entire village without one sick person, one body wracked with pain, one blind eye, one deaf ear, one stammering tongue, or one lone cripple in it. He has the same healing power today. We will discuss this more fully later. The healing processes of nature are also of God. And the more we learn of the intricate workings of the infinite God as revealed in these human bodies of ours, the more fully do we understand that we are fearfully and wonderfully made, and that within us are the forces of God combining to fight against disease (Psalm 139:13-18). 3 - DOES GOD HEAL ALL THE SICK? To the question Does God heal all the sick? we must answer, No. We know that He could (Psalm 103:3), but we know also that He does not always deem it best. In fact, only those true Christians who live to see Christ come and who are translated to heaven will escape the first death. Remember the following: Jesus can heal. He healed Peters mother-in-law (Matthew 8:14-15). But Paul was not healed (2 Corinthians 12:79). Therefore, continued sickness need not be a sign of weak faith or a lack of Christian experience. It is more important for the sick to trust God than to be healed. He who makes bodily healing the first of all desires may be deceived. Satan is on the alert to catch in his snare those who will do anything but make the will of God first in their lives. There are many false cures wrought for those who go to charlatans and false healers for the benefits they seek. 4 - ARE MIRACLES A TEST OF TRUE RELIGION? We repeat, Jesus worked many miracles while here on earth (see Matthew 9 for several examples), but He warned us against wonder workers. Listen to these words: Matthew 24:24- There shall arise false christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. The Word of God is the only standard by which all religions should be tested. Isaiah 8:20- To the law and to the testimony; If they speak not according to this Word, it is because there is no light in them. There are three reasons why it is wholly unsafe to make miracles a test of true religion. First: The miracle worker himself may be false. Satan is a miracle worker. He transforms himself into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness (2 Corinthians 11:15). Jesus said there would be many in the last days. Second: There may be healing without salvation, as in the case of the ten lepers cleansed by Jesus (Luke 17:12-19). Only one returned to give glory to God. To him Jesus said, Thy faith hath made thee whole. He received soul healing also, but the other nine did not. Third: There may be salvation without healing, as witnessed in the case of Paul, already mentioned. God knew that in the last days people would judge truth by miracles, and that they would be deceived thereby. Therefore, Jesus gave His urgent warning. But notice carefully-there is a plan for all to follow who seek healing. 5 - WHAT PLAN SHOULD BE FOLLOWED IN PRAYER FOR THE SICK? 1. Confess all faults and sins, and call for the elders to pray and anoint the sick one. 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 be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. 2. Have faith to submit the will to Gods will, whatever His will may be (Matthew 26:42). This is simple and clear. We confess faults one to another, pray one for another, and are anointed. We confess our sins to God. The results we leave with Him, saying, All things work together for good to them that love God (Romans 8:28). It is perfectly proper and consistent to seek sound medical advice from a good physician after such prayers have been offered. But there is another step, as we shall see.
Posted on: Sat, 16 Aug 2014 21:23:23 +0000
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