Healing # 5
In t subject of healing there are many unscriptual teachings. Any where from Paul's thorn in t flesh being an eye disease, to God putting sickness upon His people & that healing is of the Devil. So in today’s message I want to look at some of those thoughts.
I. 1st of all turn with me to PSA 34:19
A. Now some have said that because of this scripture it proves that the righteous are going to have many afflictions, ‘namely sickness.’
1. It's unfortunate that many have read this scripture & forfeited their covenant rights to deliverance from sickness.
2. They have remained victims of Satanic disease.
a. Subjecting themselves to the will of Satan rather than the will of God.
B. This V. doesn't say, “Many are the sicknesses & physical disabilities of the righteous.”
1. T word “affliction” used in this case is the Hebrew word “ra” (rah).
2. It has nothing to do with sickness or physical disabilities.
a. It means trials, hardships, persecutions, temptations, etc.
b. It would be unreasonable to say that Christ has borne our sicknesses & taken our infirmities; & that by His stripes we were healed; & that He healeth all our diseases;
c. Then to also say that there are many sicknesses which God expects us to bear; Makes no sense at all.
d. In fact, it would make the Bible contradict.
C. Just as Christ bore our sin so that we do not have to bear them. COL 1:14, 20-22.
1. This same thing is also true in the area of sickness. 1PET 2:24
2. Christ bore our sicknesses so that we don't have to bare them.
a. Here's a little side thought, not only did Christ bare our sins & sicknesses so that we don't have to, but He also borne our poverty so that we don't have to.
b. (2CO 8:9) The NIV says, ‘For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.’
i. Not only did Christ take our poverty, but for our poverty He gave us wealth.
2. The same is true for our sins, not only did He take away our sin, but for our sins He gave us righteousness. &
3. Not only did He take our sicknesses & diseases, but for our sicknesses & diseases He gave us health.
D. Christ did not bear our trials, persecutions, or troubles.
1. That doesn't mean that you have to be defeated.
a. The Devil will come & try to bring troubles, persecutions, & things like that.
b. But you can take authority over him & have the victory every time.
2. Jesus did bear our sins & sicknesses.
a. (1PE 2:24) Says, ‘Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.’ (KJV)
b. He bore them so that we don't have to.
c. He was our substitute; He took our place.
II. Others have misinterpreted JAMES 5:13. So let's turn there.
A. People have decided that the word ‘AFFLICTED’ means sickness or disease.
1. But it has the same meaning as t word “afflicted” that we just read about.
a. It means hardship, sufferings, trouble, persecutions, etc.
b. James is saying (JAM 5:13) Is any among you persecuted? Let him pray.
2. James is saying that if you have troubles, then you pray.
a. But if you are sick then you can call the elders of the church & they will pray over you to be healed.
b. If your being persecuted, God's Word says that God will make all grace abound to you.
c. If you stay humble He says that He would even give you more grace, so that you will be able to get through. (James 4:6) Says, “But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.”
3. Lets go on reading in James 5:13‑15
a. James is telling us that if you're having some problems, than you pray.
b. If you're merry, sing psalms.
c. If you're sick than, be healed. (Call for t elders)
d. But if you're afflicted, pray.
III. Another scripture which is so often misinterpreted is 1PETER 5:10. Let's look at it.
A. This V. does not say: ‘After you have been sick & suffered with disease for a while, God will make you perfect & establish you.’
1. It does say: ‘After that ye have suffered a while.’
a. Is it possible to suffer any other way other than being sick?
b. Look at 2COR 6:4‑10
c. Than again in (2Cor 11:23‑25) It says, ‘Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I {am} more; in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. (24) Of the Jews five times received I forty {stripes} save one. (25) Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep.’
d. Paul suffered for Christ's sake.
i. In (2TI 3:12) It says, ‘Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.’ (KJV)
ii. Then in (MAT 5:10) it says, ‘Blessed {are} they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.’ (KJV)
iii. But nowhere do we see that suffering for Christ is suffering in sickness; We see it as suffering persecution.
iii. But Paul said in (2TI 4:8) ‘Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.’ (KJV)
e. It's an honor to suffer for Christ's sake.
i. Look at ACTS 5:41
ii. There are people that say that we are to suffer with Christ, (there referring it to sickness). 2CO 1:5 What I wanted you to see in this V. is the part that says, ‘For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us.’
iii. ROM 8:17 ‘That we suffer with {him}.’
vi. Jesus never suffered sickness except when He went to that cross to remove sickness from us.
f. If you're suffering for the Lord then we should bear it gracefully & even rejoice in it.
i. But sickness is not suffering for the Lord.
ii. EXO 23:25
January 28, 1990 Tabernacle and Word of Life 12/26/93