2.04. Causes of Sickness
CHAPTER 4 CAUSES OF SICKNESS 1 Corinthians 11:30 "For this cause many are weak and sickly among you."
It is a well know fact that when a good physician sets to work on a case, the first step is to find out if possible the cause of this sickness, and then to eliminate that cause. Even so, when we come to God for healing, we find that He deals, not so much with symptoms, as with causes. It is important to know the causes of sickness. The pain of an attack of acute appendicitis may be eased by administering narcotics, but the appendices may burst, even while the person is unaware of pain, and death may result. Carelessness in finding the cause of the suffering has resulted in great damage being done, and even lives lost. Many have lost confidence in Gods promises to heal, because of failure to remove causes of sickness, failure to meet Gods conditions for healing, failure even to understand that God has made any conditions to be met.
God has pointed out in His Word some very specific reasons for sickness. This is done in order that the person desiring to be healed may remove the cause of the causes of sickness, failure to meet Gods conditions for healing, failure even to understand that God has made any conditions to be met.
God has pointed out in His Word some very specific reasons for sickness. This is done in order that the person desiring to be healed may remove the cause of sickness.
It may be said without fear of contradiction, that in a very real sense, SIN is the cause of the existence of SICKNESS in the world. There was no sickness in the garden of Eden, and none of us expect to find either sin or infirmity in Heaven. Until the day that Eve yielded to the suggestion of Satan and took of the fruit which God had forbidden her to eat, the human race was free from both sin and sickness. Then Romans 5:12 "Sin entered into the world, and DEATH by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned." In this sense ALL sickness is the result of sin. In some cases, a specific disease is directly traceable to a specific sin. Perhaps the best example of this is the so-called "social diseases" which haunt those whose lives are immoral. In many other cases, the connection is not so readily apparent, especially to those who cannot discern the things of the Spirit of God. But God has said, Deuteronomy 28:58 "If though wilt NOT observe to do all the words of this law... then the Lord will make thy plagues...great plagues and of long continuance, and sore sicknesses and of long continuance...Moreover, he will bring upon thee all the diseases of Egypt, which thou wast afraid of... Also every sickness and every plague, which is not written in the book of this law, them will the Lord bring upon thee."
Sin and sickness are closely associated in New Testament thought, as in the old, for Jesus Himself, said, in dealing with sickness, "Son, they SINS be forgiven thee," John 5:14.
James admonished the sick.
James 5:16-15 "Confess your faults one to another and pray one for another THAT YE MAY BE HEALED," "If he have committed sins they shall be forgiven him." The testimony of David, speaking by inspiration of the Holy Ghost, Psalms 107:17-20 "Fools because of their transgressions, and because of their iniquities, are afflicted. Their soul abhoreth all manner of meat; and they drew near unto the gates of death. Then the cry unto the Lord in their trouble, and he saveth them out of their distresses. HE SENT HIS WORD AND HEALED THEM." This should be sufficient evidence that with sin comes sickness. But there is yet more. In Numbers 12:1-16, is a story which brings Gods people a very solemn warning. Miriam, Moses’ sister, a prophetess and one who had been greatly blessed of the Lord, became lifted up with pride, and "was not afraid to speak against (Gods) servant, Moses" (verse 8). God heard her evil speaking, and "The anger of the Lord was kindled" against Miriam and against Aaron, her brother, who had entered with her into the criticism against Moses, and Miriam became leprous, white as snow, and would have remained so had not Moses prayed for her deliverance. How marvelous that God heard the cry of Moses and healed Miriam! But not that Miriam would never have needed healing if she had not sinned. CRITICISM IS SIN!
Sin breaks down the hedge that God builds around your, thus permitting Satan to afflict you.
God, who has pronounced just judgments upon the disobedient, has also given in His Word many precious promises of physical well being to those who will DILIGENTLY HEARKEN to His Voice, and do that which is right in His sight. There is, in the Ten Commandments, a special promise of long life to those who honor their parents.
Ephesians 6:2 "Honor thy father and thy mother; which is the first commandment with promise; that it may be will with thee and thou mayest live long on the earth."
Dear reader, if it is not all well with thee (physically) your sickness could be the result of breaking this commandment.
Exodus 15:26 "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." Can you believe that God meant what He said? Obedience means healing! Disobedience means disease and sickness. The unsaved and the disobedient must prepare for healing by GETTING RIGHT WITH GOD!
Paul deals very specifically with the subject of sickness among Christian people, in 1 Corinthians 11:1-34, he tells us in 1 Corinthians 11:30, "For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep" (die prematurely). This being a very clear statement that there is a definite cause for Christians’ sicknesses, should receive careful consideration, that we may know what "this cause" is. The entire chapter deals with one of the most important and perpetual ordinances of the church, the Lords Supper. Instituted by the Lord, the same night in which He was betrayed, this ordinance became to the followers of Jesus the visible symbol of all He has purchased for us, salvation through the shedding of His blood, and healing through His sufferings at the whipping post. So essential to the believers life is it to become a partaker of these sacrifices, that Jesus Himself said, John 6:53 "Except ye eat the flesh of the son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you."
Over against this solemn warning is another, found in 1 Corinthians 11:27-29 "Whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup."
Many professing Christians have refused to take the Lords Supper, because of this warning.
However, this was not the Lords intention. If you are unworthy to partake of the SYMBOLS of His blood and body, surely you cannot be a partaker of His blood and body in reality. In that case, Jesus says, "Ye have no life in you." If you are unworthy to partake of the communion, you may also be unready for the rapture.
Worthiness does not imply that one is sure he has fully attained to the goal of sinless perfection, for Christ Himself served the first communion to twelve men who very quickly demonstrated that they were still subject to human weaknesses, and short of perfection.
You say then, "What does it imply?" This word worthiness has a three fold implication.2 Corinthians 11:29 First and most simple, is the attitude of the believer at the time of partaking of the symbols.
Surely there should never be any frivolity or irreverence at such a solemn time. Never should it be approached lightly, nor treated as a mere formal ceremony. In partaking of these emblems, we "do shew forth the Lords death till he comes." 1 Corinthians 11:26. This worthy attitude is by no means a proud spirit, feeling, worthy, or superior to other men, but rather a realization of inherent sinfulness, and of the deep need of a redeemer. The other two are both embodied in the latter part of 1 Corinthians 11:29, which is an explanation of the word "unworthily" - "Not discerning the Lord’s body." The blood of the Lord was shed for the remission of sins, but it was His body that bore the stripes whereby we are healed. Many drink the wine with happy realization and praise to God for the glorious deliverance from sins through the shedding of blood, but eat the bread without any realization that this also typifies a definite price paid at definite time for a definite blessing, which is ours if we will but accept it. This blessing is HEALING!
Only as we believe and accept the blood of Christ for salvation do we find salvation. Drinking the wine of the communion, alone, will not wash away our sins. A young man who had been brought up in a home where Gods Word was not read, and kept busy with other things than church matters, went to church with a friend on communion Sunday. For the first time in his life he saw people taking communion. Very little explanation was made, and when the elements of communion were passed and his friend took a portion, he joined in, just as he would join in the treats at a party. He had no realization of the meaning of either the wine or the bread. There was no change in his life as a result of taking communion. There must first be an inward understanding of the cleansing of the blood, before the outward form can have any meaning.
Many fine Christian people receive no more benefit from partaking of the bread than this boy did in taking of the wine, and for the same reason. They have never learned that when "Christ our Passover (was) sacrificed for us," that the blood was sufficient to deliver from death, and that the BODY was provided for healing and physical strength. Because they do not expect healing, they do not receive it. When the death angel passed over the houses of Israel, he was not concerned with what was on the table, or the pantry shelf, but God has said, "When I see the BLOOD, I will pass over you." Thus the condemnation to death was set aside by the blood. But the command of God was not completed with the applying of the blood to the door posts, for God has also commanded that they should eat the flesh on that night, and thereby to receive strength for the journey which lay ahead.
Even so, the blood of Christ shed upon Calvary is fully sufficient to make atonement for our sins. This being true, His sufferings at the whipping post, and in Pilates judgment hall, were sufferings all in vain, unless we accept healing. But those sufferings were not in vain!
1 Peter 2:21, 1 Peter 2:24 "Christ-suffered for us: Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sin, should live unto righteousness: BY WHOSE STRIPES YE WERE HEALED." As we discern by faith the power of the blood of Christ we are set free from the guilt and bondage of sin. And as we discern the body of the Lord, there need not be any weak and sickly among us. The people of Israel accepted both the body and blood to their Passover lamb, and when God brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, Psalms 105:37 "There was not one feeble person among their tribes."
Many churches today, if they were consistent, would use only the wine for communion, since they believe in the blood for salvation, but reject the body broken for our healing. No wonder so many are sick, for they have refused the only remedy that is guaranteed to cure every disease - if used according to directions! But perhaps the reason the minds of many have been unable to grasp this glorious truth will be found in the third phase of unworthiness, which is failure to discern the body of the Lord which is living and active in the world today. "Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular." Because of failure to recognize this fact, many have been guilty of causing division in the body, This is sin. SIN KILLS FAITH. Therefore, in taking communion, let us as Christians examine ourselves in the light of our relationship to the other members of the body, as set forth in I Corinthians, chapter 12, not belitthng any person or any gift placed by the Spirit of Christ in His body. Both spiritual and physical welfare depend largely upon this right relationship in the body of Christ. If you have been guilty of causing division in the body of Christ, either by tale bearing, which separates others from each other, or by pride and self-righteousness which separates YOU from the body, confess this as sin and turn form it so that faith may grow. Take your proper place in the body, whether it be small or great, and help others to do the same.
Accept the blood of Christ of the cleansing of your sins, and then accept BY FAITH, the body of Christ for the healing of your body, This is yours. Jesus bought it for you the day that He bought your salvation upon the cross. Discern NOW the body of the Lord, and you too shall enjoy the blessing of healing for your body. Satan cannot legally afflict you with that for which Christ has already suffered in your place.
There are many whoresick today who have once experienced marvelous healings, some even complaining of the same sickness from which they had once been so gloriously delivered. Jesus indicated, when He was here on earth, that this would be the case. This does not mean that it is not Gods will for these people to be well, nor that they cannot be permanently healed. The one whom Christ had healed, He warned, John 5:14 "Sin no more lest a worse thing come unto thee."
God does not heal any one to give him more strength to continue in sin.
Sickness has returned to many because of their own carelessness and disobedience to God. This matter will be dealt with more fully in chapter 13 of this book, "Keeping Your Healing." If you have been one of those who have been healed, and have not stayed healed, be sure to read this chapter, for there you will see that you need not be discouraged, but that YOU, TOO, may have deliverance.
Much sickness is caused by improper care of the body. The laws of nature are Gods laws for physical health, and cannot be broken without punishment, in health, and cannot be broken without punishment, in the form of sickness or infirmity. Divine healing was never intended to take the place of proper care of the body, as rest, exercise, right eating and avoidance of weakening habits.
God commanded His people to rest one day of each seven, while we are no longer under legal bondage to keep the Sabbath, which was a shadow of a better rest to come (see Hebrews 4:9), Jesus himself declared that Mark 2:27 "The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath."
One days rest in seven has been proved a necessity for healthy. Those who cannot find time to rest, who keep themselves too busy with the cares of life to attend worship in the house of God make themselves liable for the inroads of disease. Neither can they gain faith to receive healing, for Romans 10:17 "Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God."
Healing is available to all Gods people, but ONLY THROUGH FAITH, and faith cannot come in any other way, but by hearing and obeying the Word of God. Many desire prayer for their bodies, but insist that they cannot attend any daytime services to hear instruction about healing from the Word of God. They work every day, even Sunday. Many of these people suffer from nervous disorders. The increasing number of nervous disorders and mental and physical breakdowns, due to fatigue, can be traced directly to an increasing lack of concern for the command of God.
Exodus 2:9-10 "Six days shalt thou labor, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work."
Many diseases are called by the medical profession "deficiency diseases," meaning that they are caused by lack of essential elements in the diet. It is well for the Christian in choosing his diet to consider the value of various foods, which God has placed in the world, and choose from among them, the foods that will keep his body strong and well, if it is at all possible for him to do so. This is not a matter of the souls salvation, but is vitally concerned with the bodys health.
Jesus said, "Man shall not live by bread alone." The eternal values of the kingdom of God are far grater that n the present enjoyment of pleasant food and drink. We are advised that 1 Corinthians 9:25 "Every one that striveth for the master to be temperate in all things."
Overeating is the direct cause of some sicknesses, and a contributing factor in many others. The work of all the organs of the body, such as liver, stomach and heart, is so increased by overeating as to make it impossible for them to carry on their normal duties, and sicknesses ranging from gout to stomach and heart troubles result. Even the deficiency disease are frequently prevalent among those who overeat, because they choose their foods on the basis of taste appeal rather that the bodys needs. Too many rich sweet foods, too much meat, or too many starch foods, can make the body fat, overburden the heart and digestive system, at the same time failing to provide the food elements needed for health. Many of the people who come requesting prayer for their bodies would never have needed to come had they taken a little care to choose the proper foods.
Many who come under these conditions would be benefited very little if they were instantly, miraculously healed, for they would immediately begin the process of again tearing down their health through the same disobedience to the laws of nature which originally caused their sickness.
Then there are those who injure their bodies through weakening habits. Too many readers, it may seem unnecessary to speak of such things are the use of liquor, narcotics and tobacco, but no doubt there will be many among the readers of this book who are still in bondage to one or all of these habits. It is a well known fact, substantiated by the best medical authorities, as well as athletes, coaches and others interested in building strong bodies, that all these habits are injurious to the body. Many diseases, especially of the heart and liver, are directly traceable to the use of these drugs. It seems almost inconceivable that in the light of the plain declaration of God’s word 1 Corinthians 3:17 "If any may defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are" that any should expect healing from God, while still continuing to defile their bodies with these recognized poisons. If you are among those who are still in bondage to any of these habits, make this the time when your body shall be set free from such bondage. No doubt, when you attempt to lay them aside, you will soon realize how real was the bondage. Any wholesome food can easily be replaced by another of the same food value, but nothing else can take the place of tobacco, or liqueur, or dope to the one who has been living under bondage to them. But God has said, John 8:36 "If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed."
If you will recognize this filthy habit as a bondage, and look to God for grace, THE LORD WILL SET YOU FREE!
Then when you have been delivered through the power of God from the disease which has been troubling you, the cause of the disease will also be gone, and you can STAY well.
God has chosen in this generation to take up His abode in human bodies, as is evident by many Scriptures, including 1 Corinthians 3:16; quoted above.
1 Corinthians 6:19 "What know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost?"
Thus each of us who are His, are made caretakers of His temples. This is a sacred trust and responsibility. God is not glorified by our abuse of our bodies.
Carelessly exposing the body to extremes of temperature, or to the germs of contagious diseases, comes under the heading of "tempting God", and may readily bring about sickness. If these things are necessary, we may claim God’s protection, and need not be in bondage to fear, so long as we walk by faith. No discussion of the causes of sickness could be complete without speaking of demon possession and oppression.
There are many diseases and sicknesses that are easily identified and in many instances it is not difficult to determine their cause. In the case of Job, Job 2:7 "Satan went forth - and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot to his crown."
Boils are caused by a germ. Thus, it becomes apparent that Satan is responsible for the germ-caused diseases, of which there are many.
It may be more difficult to determine the exact nature and cause of other infirmities, but in order to do so, a person need not search further than the Bible. Contrary to general opinion, but according to the Bible, much sickness is due to afflicting spirits, or demons. The Bible teaches that there are many different kinds of evil spirits. Each has power to afflict the body in a different way. Many people are deaf, dumb, or both, because of the presence of deaf or dumb spirits.
There are spirits that cause blindness. Malignant growth, such as cancer, tumor, cataract, have their being as the result of the presence of demon power. The Scripture speaks of foul spirits, unclean spirits, spirits of infirmity, and many others.
It may safely be said that perhaps most disease, and no doubt ALL malignant growths, such as cancer and tumor, are caused by an inhabiting demon. The life in a cancer or tumor certainly has a diabolical nature. When the demon is cast out, the cancer or tumor dies, and the tumor disappears. In all cases, sickness is caused either directly or indirectly by the devil or his agencies (demons). The causes of disease mentioned in this chapter, as sin and disobedience, really just open the door through which Satan has entrance to afflict the body. A most extreme case of demon possession is found in Mark 5:1-43. Here a legion of demons have taken possession of one man. From a study of this case, the maniac was in need of mental rather than physical healing. He was strong physically, so strong that chains could not hold him. No man could tame him. He tore off his clothing and dwelt among the tombs. In bringing deliverance to this mental case, Christ cast out the unclean spirits (Mark 5:13). These entered into two thousand swine. The swine ran quickly down a steep place as the demons were gone, he was normal again. The people from the city observed that he was "clothed and in his right mind." Mark 5:15. No doubt many such cases are filling our psychopathic hospitals and insane asylums today, who could find real deliverance. God has provided that deliverance through His Son, Jesus Christ.
Another case of possession is described in Mark 9:14-29. In this scene, a father has brought a son who "foameth, and gnasheth with the teeth and pineth away." Matthew adds, "He is a lunatic and falleth into the fire, and oft into the water." Matthew 17:15. This is a description of thousands of sufferers today, young and old. It is the opinion of the author that these will never be cured by medical science. There is but one cure.
Matthew 17:18 "And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him; and the child was cure that very hour."
Many people suffering from this type of demon possession today have been treated by many physicians, but to no avail. Faith takes more that mere medicine or drugs to drive out the devil. It can only be done in the mighty name of Jesus!
"In my name shall they cast out devils," Mark 16:17.
Insanity is by no means the only type of demon possession.
Matthew 9:32 "Behold, they brought unto him a dumb man possessed with a devil. And when the devil was cast out, the dumb spake."
Many who are in this same condition today will never speak until the devil is cast out in Jesus name. It has been our privilege to see many who had been afflicted in this way, IMMEDIATELY begin to speak.
Let us next examine a man who is not only dumb, but also blind. Let us see according to God, the cause of his condition.
Matthew 12:22 "Then was brought unto him one possessed with a devil, blind, and dumb; and he healed him insomuch that the blind and dumb both spake and saw." So we see that demons cause blindness.
There are deaf and dumb spirits. In Mark 9:25 Christ said, "Thou dumb and deaf spirit, I charge thee, come out of him."
Luke 13:11 "And behold there was a woman which had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bowed together, and could in no way lift up herself."
Suppose this woman should go to one of the modern clinics. Her case would probably be diagnosed as "incurable," although some treatments might be recommended. However, she would receive no relief. This woman was bound by the devil. (See verse 16). Jesus loosed her and immediately she was made straight (Verse 13). This woman was not in need of pills. Pills, no matter what color or shape or size, could never have driven out the devil of an afflicting spirit. No amount of drugs taken from a bottle, even though the prescription was given by your family physician or your favorite specialist, would bring deliverance in this case. Surgery, no matter how skillful, would never have brought relief to this woman, because a mere knife under the most skilled hand could not remove the spirit which caused this womans condition. While surgery brings relief and in many instances effects, with the help of another, a cure, it must be recognized that many people have operation after operation, and their conditions continues the same or even grows worse.
We have no quarrel with the medical profession. Rather, we thank God for trained men who are relieving the suffering of many who do not have faith to trust God. Yet they cannot help in every case, and do not claim to. Although many people in the world today have received help from physicians, many others are like the woman in the eighth chapter of Luke, of whom it is said, she "had spent all her living upon physicians, neither could be healed of any." Luke 8:43. This woman, who, from the medical point of view, was a hopeless case, received instant and perfect deliverance when she came to Jesus. If you too, are in this condition, why not follow her example? Press through the multitude of doubts, fears, false teachings, and discouragements, touch the hem of His garment, by faith. Only believe, for all things are possible to him that believeth. Jesus Christ will gladly become your "family physician," for His name is JEHOVAH-RAPHA - the Lord THY Healer! Jesus, the Great Physician, is the only one who can absolutely GUARANTEE to heal you, if you will commit yourself fully into His hands, and follow His instructions.