“Divine Healing”
Introduction before the introduction (To my fellow Pastors) Some of the information in this message should be given to the credit of W. A. Criswell and his book entitled: "The Holy Spirit in Today’s World." I have simply shapened some of his thoughts and added a few of my own. Enjoy...
Introduction: There are two schools of thought on this subject that I want to immediately dismiss. The first is: that a Christian is never sick. That sickness is really only a matter of "mind over matter." That belief is a good belief to have until the day that you actually become sick or you become injured!
The other belief is: that if a person is a Christian, all that he has to do is "declare himself to be healed in the name of Jesus," and it will be so. That, too, is a wonderful belief to have, until the day that you find that you still need to wear a hearing aid "BECAUSE YOU CAN’T HEAR," or the day that you have to put on a pair of glasses BECAUSE YOU CAN’T SEE!
Here are some introductory verses for you to consider
There are only two points that I want you to consider when reading through this message. 1. Why people get sick? And 2. What should we do about it?
Six reasons for sickness?
I submit to you that there could be one or more of the following six reasons why a person may be sick.
Before we begin this list, please consider this verse:
(James 1:5 KJV) If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
When either you or a loved one becomes sick, God encourages you to come to him and for you to ask him, “Why?” It is right for you to pray this prayer, “Why me Lord? What are you trying to teach me?”
If a person does not know God’s will for their life, how can one expect to do God’s will?
Here is the first reason for you to consider as to why a person my become sick with disease or infirmity:
1. The Devil or demon possession.
Please read this story:
(Luke 13:11 KJV) 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.
(Luke 13:12 KJV) And when Jesus saw her, he called her to him, and said unto her, Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity.
(Luke 13:13 KJV) And he laid his hands on her: and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God.
(Luke 13:14 KJV) And the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, because that Jesus had healed on the sabbath day, and said unto the people, There are six days in which men ought to work: in them therefore come and be healed, and not on the sabbath day.
(Luke 13:15 KJV) The Lord then answered him, and said, Thou hypocrite, doth not each one of you on the sabbath loose his ox or his ass from the stall, and lead him away to watering?
(Luke 13:16 KJV) 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?
Note verse 16. Jesus said that the reason why this woman had the infirmity was that "Satan had her in bonds."
When Peter was at the house of Cornelius, he said this concerning the ministry of Christ:
(Acts 10:38 KJV) 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.
Again, note that the healing was for those who were "oppressed of the Devil."
Many people who are under hospital care today, are there because they are being directly afflicted of the Devil. Pastor’s need to make hospital calls!
2. The Chastening of the Lord.
Some people are sick because they are being chastening of the Lord. Consider the following examples in Scripture:
Miriam… Numbers 12:9,10 (Leprosy because of her rebellion)
David… Psalm 38:3-8 (Became sick after his secret sin)
Gehazi… 11 Kings 5:27 (Became a leper because of his greed)
King Herod Agippa… (Died because of his pride) Acts 12:23
Also, please read:
(1 Cor 11:30 KJV) For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.
(1 Cor 11:31 KJV) For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.
(1 Cor 11:32 KJV) But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.
3. For the glory of God.
Some times a person is sick simply because God wants to show himself strong on their behalf.
Read these two stories: The Blind Man, and that of Lazarus.
(John 9:1 KJV) And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth.
(John 9:2 KJV) And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?
(John 9:3 KJV) Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.
(John 11:4 KJV) When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.
4. For violating the laws of God.
If you continue to ignore God’s dietary laws, your body will pay the consequences.
(Phil 4:6 KJV) Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
Smoking, abusive drinking, gluttony, and laziness will bring on sickness!
5. Because of the burden of the ministry.
There are a few individuals who actually became “sick” because of the great care and concern that they had for others: Jesus had virtue come out of him. Daniel was sick after seeing the vision. Epaphroditus was sick nigh unto death because of his concern for Paul.
(Mark 5:30 KJV) 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?
(Dan 8:26 KJV) And the vision of the evening and the morning which was told is true: wherefore shut thou up the vision; for it shall be for many days.
(Dan 8:27 KJV) And I Daniel fainted, and was sick certain days; afterward I rose up, and did the king’s business; and I was astonished at the vision, but none understood it.
(Phil 2:25 KJV) 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.
(Phil 2:26 KJV) For he longed after you all, and was full of heaviness, because that ye had heard that he had been sick.
(Phil 2:27 KJV) 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.
(Phil 2:28 KJV) I sent him therefore the more carefully, that, when ye see him again, ye may rejoice, and that I may be the less sorrowful.
(Phil 2:29 KJV) Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness; and hold such in reputation:
My final thought for you to consider is:
6. Because of the Curse.
(Gen 3:17 KJV) And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;
(Gen 3:18 KJV) Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field;
(Gen 3:19 KJV) In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.
We are all going to die on some day and in some way!
What should a Christian do when he is sick?
1. Have the right attitude.
Consider these verses:
(Psa 119:71 KJV) It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes.
(James 5:13 KJV) Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms.
2. Have faith in God.
Consider these verses:
(James 5:15 KJV) 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.
(Mat 9:1 KJV) And he entered into a ship, and passed over, and came into his own city.
(Mat 9:2 KJV) And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.
(Mat 9:22 KJV) But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour.
(Mat 9:28 KJV) And when he was come into the house, the blind men came to him: and Jesus saith unto them, Believe ye that I am able to do this? They said unto him, Yea, Lord.
(Mat 9:29 KJV) Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you.
If a man loses his faith in God he is like the wave of the sea, driven and tossed with the wind! (James 1:6)
3. Go to a Doctor.
Consider these verses:
(Isa 38:21 KJV) For Isaiah had said, Let them take a lump of figs, and lay it for a plaster upon the boil, and he shall recover.
(Isa 38:22 KJV) Hezekiah also had said, What is the sign that I shall go up to the house of the LORD?
(Mat 9:12 KJV) But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.
(Luke 10:34 KJV) And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.
Remember that Jesus is our great physician! (Jeremiah 8:22)
4. Go to a Man of God.
Consider These verses:
(Acts 28:8 KJV) And it came to pass, that the father of Publius lay sick of a fever and of a bloody flux: to whom Paul entered in, and prayed, and laid his hands on him, and healed him.
(Acts 28:9 KJV) So when this was done, others also, which had diseases in the island, came, and were healed:
(James 5:14 KJV) 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:
(James 5:15 KJV) 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.
(James 5:16 KJV) 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.
And, finally, I bring you to my last point:
5. Go to Heaven.
You may not be healed. It may be that God wants to bring you home! That was the testimony of Moses:
(Deu 3:23 KJV) And I besought the LORD at that time, saying,
(Deu 3:24 KJV) O Lord GOD, thou hast begun to show thy servant thy greatness, and thy mighty hand: for what God is there in heaven or in earth, that can do according to thy works, and according to thy might?
(Deu 3:25 KJV) I pray thee, let me go over, and see the good land that is beyond Jordan, that goodly mountain, and Lebanon.
(Deu 3:26 KJV) But the LORD was wroth with me for your sakes, and would not hear me: and the LORD said unto me, Let it suffice thee; speak no more unto me of this matter.
(Deu 3:27 KJV) Get thee up into the top of Pisgah, and lift up thine eyes westward, and northward, and southward, and eastward, and behold it with thine eyes: for thou shalt not go over this Jordan.
Conclusion:
God loves you and he has a wonderful plan for your life. (Even in the time of great temptation) Do you know what God is doing in your life?
