Why Christians Get Sick

Introduction: In 2009, Pastor Matt Chandler of the Village Church in Dallas was diagnosed with brain cancer. At the time of his diagnosis, this young pastor was not even forty years of age, a husband and the father of young children. He was given months to live.

Chandler is still alive today. He still serves as pastor, is now an author, and his church is reaching thousands of people weekly. In an interview, Chandler said he felt, in those initial meetings with doctors, like he was punched in his soul. He said when it seemed like things were spinning out of control, his theology and the Holy Spirit were there to remind him that:

“He is good and He does good—to remind

me that God has a plan for His glory and my

joy that He is working. I was reminded that

this cancer wasn’t punitive but somehow

redemptive (Romans 8).”

Pastor Matt had to come to the holy place of realizing that God was not punishing him, but was going to use this disease to bring Himself glory.

T.S.: By no means am I an authority on the subject I am going to preach on today nor do I have a corner on the truth about it. At the same time, I do not want to ignore it. I want to speak to you today on the subject,

“Why Christians Get Sick.”

Have you ever wondered why Christians get sick? I promise you today, there are people who are struggling in hospitals, emergency rooms, hospice centers, rehabilitation centers, recovery units, oncology clinics, homes and in churches today, wondering, “Why do I have this disease? Why me? What did I do wrong? Where do I go from here? Will God heal me?” All of those questions and more are legitimate. No one needs to be scolded or ridiculed for asking these questions.

Let’s look at what God’s Word says today about Christians being sick.

Exodus 15:26, “For I am the Lord who heals you.”

Psalm 103:3, “He forgives all your sin; He heals all

your diseases.”

Isaiah 53:4, “Yet He Himself bore our sicknesses and carried our pains…”

*Sicknesses: Diseases, afflictions, addictions, abuses, sadness, problems.

*Jesus lifted them up, carried them off, He bore them,

and He took them away.

“Isaiah 53:5, “But He was pierced because of our transgressions, crushed because of our iniquities, punishment for our peace was upon Him, and we are healed by His wounds.”

*Brief insight: I will come back to it in a moment, but sickness entered the world because of sin. Jesus died for all sin. While God can heal physically whom He desires, ultimately in heaven for those who are Christ-followers, all sickness will be healed and we will all be made completely healthy.

Hebrew word: “Rapha” which means, “to heal, to make healthy, physician.”

Now for another Hebrew word used for healing . . .

Malachi 4:2, “But for you who fear My name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings, and you will go out and playfully jump like calves from the stall.”

*Prophetic word about what will happen when the Sun of righteousness comes: Referring to the first coming of Jesus Christ, the Messiah of the world.

*Jesus drives all darkness away, including the darkness of disease, becoming the medicine, the cure, the one who makes people whole, pulling them out of their sickness,

and giving them great energy to spring about physically like a calf released from the stall.

*Jesus alone is able to restore people to health.

Hebrew word: “marpe,” which means to “bring healing, a cure, to restore, and bring health.”

Acts 28:8-9, “It happened that Publius’ father was in bed suffering from fever and dysentery. Paul went to him, and praying and laying his hands on him, he healed him. After this, the rest of those on the island who had diseases also came and were cured.”

*Dysentery—an infection of the intestines marked by severe diarrhea.

Greek word in v. 8: “iaomai,” which means to “to cure, to heal, to make whole.”

Insight: This word indicates supernatural, instantaneous healing.

*Same word used in Acts 3 for the lame man being healed instantaneously; Matthew 15 when the lady’s daughter was healed by Jesus instantaneously, and in Luke 4 when Jesus stated that one of the reasons he had come was to heal the brokenhearted and hurting and did so, instantaneously.

*Therefore, when Dr. Luke, a physician who traveled with Paul and also authored the book of Acts that records this story, used the word “iaomai,” he was referring to Paul who instantaneously, supernaturally, through God’s power healed Publius’ father in this manner.

Now, for another Greek word used for healing . . .

Greek word in v. 9: “therapeuo,” which means, “to serve, to do service, to care for, to treat, to restore to health.”