I have been watching many of our loved ones struggling with sickness this month. They have been dragged down by the weight of infirmities. My niece has been coughing so hard that she popped a blood vessel in her eye. My sister had to take her to the hospital to rule out pneumonia. A friend called because their friend was diagnosed with stage 4 brain cancer. My SIL has missed 3 weeks of work because of a strain of the flu. My MIL has been down with the flu and has been losing weight as a result. I could go on with the number of people around us that have been inflicted with these sicknesses. But....
What is God's will concerning healing? How can we learn from a time of sickness? Do we have an enemy that wishes to defeat the children of God? What does the Bible say about healing? Here are some scriptures that I have found concerning healing:
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.
Matthew 4:23
And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.
Matthew 9:35
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.
Luke 9:6
And they departed, and went through the towns, preaching the gospel, and healing every where.
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.
Exodus 15:26
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.
Psalm 67:2
That thy way may be known upon earth, thy saving health among all nations.
Psalm 103:3
Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;
Isaiah 53:5
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.
Matthew 8:8
The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed.
Matthew 8:13
And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour.
Matthew 10:1
And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.What lesson can we learn through sickness?
Is God testing us through infirmity and disease or is it an enemy trying to destroy us?
Let's see what The Word says:
James 1:2-4 Amplified
2.Consider it wholly joyful, my brethren, whenever you are enveloped in or encounter trials of any sort or fall into various temptations.3.Be assured and understand that the trial and proving of your faith bring out endurance and steadfastness and patience.4.But let endurance and steadfastness and patience have full play and do a thorough work, so that you may be [people] perfectly and fully developed [with no defects], lacking in nothing.
James 1:12-18
12.Blessed (happy, to be envied) is the man who is patient under trial and stands up under temptation, for when he has stood the test and been approved, he will receive [the victor's] crown of life which God has promised to those who love Him. 13.Let no one say when he is tempted, I am tempted from God; for God is incapable of being tempted by [what is] evil and He Himself tempts no one. 14.But every person is tempted when he is drawn away, enticed and baited by his own evil desire (lust, passions). 15.Then the evil desire, when it has conceived, gives birth to sin, and sin, when it is fully matured, brings forth death. 16.Do not be misled, my beloved brethren. 17.Every good gift and every perfect (free, large, full) gift is from above; it comes down from the Father of all [that gives] light, in [the shining of] Whom there can be no variation [rising or setting] or shadow cast by His turning [as in an eclipse].
This scripture applies to all areas of life, not just sickness, but we can see that God is telling us that He is not the one who tempts us. When we give into out own evil desires and sin, we open the door to satan who is more than happy to take the opportunity to attempt to destroy our lives in anyway possible. Is there hope to change that, if we have opened the door to the enemy? Yes! Thankfully, that is why Christ died for us. He shows us this in Romans 8.
Verses 1 & 2 say:
1THEREFORE, [there is] now no condemnation (no adjudging guilty of wrong) for those who are in Christ Jesus, who live [and] walk not after the dictates of the flesh, but after the dictates of the Spirit.2For the law of the Spirit of life [which is] in Christ Jesus [the law of our new being] has freed me from the law of sin and of death.Let's look at verse 2. It is telling us that we are made free from the curses brought on us by Adam and Eve in the garden of eden. That we are not subject to those curses God spoke over them so long ago, as a result of their disobedience to Him. That is why He sent Jesus. He provided a way to mercy and grace through the death and resurrection of Christ Jesus so that we can live in the fullness of what He intended for Adam in the Garden. In essence, Christ is our Garden of Eden.
When you get a chance, sit down and read Romans 8. It is so wonderful, and eye opening.
To answer the question of, "Do we have an enemy who wishes to destroy us?" This is my favorite scripture (although there are many more) on this subject.
John 10:10
The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
So, we can see that by the words of God's own mouth, His will is for us to live, and to live an abundant life. Therefore, he gave us authority through Jesus Christ and His blood shed on the cross to come against the attacks of the enemy and take our healing and prosperity in His name.
It is our God given right on this earth to do so.
Ariana with her cousin, Benjamin! He loves music.
