2.08. Misconceptions in Regard to Healing
CHAPTER 8 MISCONCEPTIONS IN REGARD TO HEALING
Many born again Christians, who are living sincerely and whole-heartedly for God, are sick, and even remain sick after having been prayed for healing. This may be due to some misconception in regard to the teachings of God’s Word. They have not been able to understand that God promises healing to ALL who ask in faith. They do not realize the extent of God’s great guarantee of healing. Because of this misconception, they have asked wavering.
God says, James 1:6-7 "Let him ask in faith, NOTHING WAVERING. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord."
Often these come for prayer with their minds made up that they DO believe, and that they will not waver in faith. But when they face the situation, they find their faith wavers. They say, "I really thought I was going to be healed this time, but I just cant seem to have enough faith."
These people really have faith, but their faith is made to waver by the entrance into their minds of misconceptions regarding the Word of God, which have commonly been taught for doctrines, but which really cannot be proven by the word of God. These are traditions of men which "Make the word of God of none effect" (Mark 7:13) to the person who heeds them.
Jesus said of those who taught in this way, Mark 7:7; Matthew 15:9.
"In vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men."
God has guaranteed healing to His people, but those who profess to be His ministers have told the people that He didnt mean what He said!
Most prominent among these misconceptions, is the idea that some cannot be healed because they are sick for the glory of God. This teaching is based upon two misinterpreted incidents in the ministry of Christ. When Jesus was told that Lazarus was sick, he replied, John 11:3 "This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby." When Jesus finally came to Bethany, and was met by the sisters of Lazarus, He certainly was not met with praise, nor were they glorifying God nor His Son. The Son of God was glorified WHEN LAZARUS CAME FORTH FROM THE TOMB. John 11:44. In the other case, some of Jesus disciples questioned Him concerning a man born blind, whether the man had sinned of his parents. (Note: This is an example of the attitude of that time regarding the relation between sin and sickness.) Jesus answered, John 9:3 "Neither hath this man sinned nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him." This does not infer that neither this man nor his parents had ever committed a sin, for we are told, Romans 3:23 "All have sinned and come short of the glory of God."
Rather, this blindness, which was unusual, was not a direct punishment of unusual sin. But if this man was blind for Gods glory, then Jesus was working against the glory of God, for He gave sight that day to the man who was born blind. This mans blindness was not in itself a glory to God. Rather his blindness was an occasion for the works of God to be made manifest in him. God was glorified when those who had known him to have been born blind, saw that suddenly he was able to see.
If you are sick for Gods glory, then let God be glorified NOW, by accepting healing from Him, and witnessing to all about you of the mighty power of God, who delivers all those who trust in Him! Not once in all His earthly ministry did Jesus ever command any person to be sick, although He commanded many to be well, and healed them with Is word. Not once did a sick person come to Him asking to be healed and receive the answer, "It is Gods will for you to remain sick for His glory."
Hebrews 13:8 "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and today, and forever.
Then it is inconceivable that while He was here on earth He glorified the Father by healing Matthew 4:23 "all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people". but now having gone back to the Father, He is glorified by the people remaining patient in affliction, declaring to all whom they meet that this sickness is an evidence of the love of God toward them. No wonder those who are not Christians, are not interested in sharing in such love!
Nowhere in the Word of God is sickness declared to be an evidence of Gods favor. Rather it is the penalty for sin. (See Deuteronomy 28:22-28; and Deuteronomy 28:61). The reward of obedience is health and healing. (Exodus 15:1-27; Exodus 15:26). A glaring inconsistency in those who hold the view that sickness may be the will of god for some, is that, while they do not come to God for healing, they seem to feel no qualms of conscience in doing all that human power can do to ease pain and restore health. If sickness it truly Gods will for them, should they try to escape it? Suppose I should say to you, "I am laboring in this city for the glory of God. It is Gods will for me to labor here. But I will only stay until I can somehow find a way to get away from here. I am leaving just as soon as I can earn, beg or borrow the price of a bus ticket to take me away. I know it is Gods will for me to be here, but He can only keep me here by making it impossible for me to leave!" These good people would be horrified, and would doubtless accuse me of being rebellious against God. nevertheless, they say they are sick for gods glory, yet it is very apparent that they will remain that way only so long as it is impossible for them to make themselves well. its not his inconsistent?
Sickness is NOT the will of God for His people. It is the work of the devil. It is the will of god that His people "prosper and be in health." 1 John 2:1-29. Therefore let us come to God without wavering, in full assurance that we are asking in His will." And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: and if we know that he hear us whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him".
Those who insist that some are sick because it sis the will of God, strengthen their position by quoting as examples a few cases in Scripture which they feel are circumstantial evidence that God has chosen some of the best of his servants to be sick. At best, this is only circumstantial evidence which has to be accepted "with reservations" in any court of law. Then, under careful examination, these cases break down, even as circumstantial evidence.
Let us consider first the matter of Jobs boils. According to the testimony of God Himself, Job was a perfect and upright man, in that he feared God and shunned evil." Job 1:8. No divinity or superhuman perfection is attributed to Job.
Any Christian can and should be at least as perfect as was Job, for our opportunities and privileges and power are far ahead of his. And Jesus Himself left us the commandment to be "perfect, even as your Father in Heaven is perfect." Matthew 5:48. The Scriptures, which Job never had the privilege of reading, because he lived before they were written, were given that the man of God may be perfect." 2 Timothy 3:17. No Christian is in the will of God, nor in a position to seek healing, who is satisfied with being anything less than perfect. Though we may need to say with Paul, "Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect, but I follow after" (Php 3:12), let us keep this goal constantly before us and earnestly "press toward the mark" at all times.
Never make excuse for imperfections. PERFECTION IS THE GOAL.
God accounted job as perfect, because he sincerely feared God, and eschewed (shunned, found no pleasure in doing) evil. However, a careful study of the book of Job will reveal to the thoughtful reader that there were reasons enough in Job himself for his trouble being allowed to come upon him. God does not submit His faithful and beloved followers to the tortures of Satan for no better reason than merely to prove a point to the devil. True enough, Hobs faithfulness WAS proved, and Satans boast proved empty, but a far greater issue than that was involved in the trial of Job. This book indicates that even a perfect man can be made better.
First, let us note that while Job was commended for his fear of God (Job 1:8), that this was not Jobs only fear. When he found that he was bereft of family and possessions, suffering in body, scorned by his wife, misunderstood and accused by his friends, he cried out, "The thing which I GREATLY FEARED is come upon me." Job 3:25.
Fear is not faith. Faith is our protection against sin and sickness, and our defense when these enemies lay hold upon us. Satan saw it as a hedge round about Job, through which he could not penetrate. But fear, being opposed to faint, makes an opening in the hedge through which Satan may enter. Job is not to be condemned for his attitude, for he had not the Scriptures as we have today. His knowledge of God and His dealings came only from oral tradition, and an incomplete direct personal revelation of God. (Note: Job is generally recognized as the first written book of the Bible.) Since faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God, it is little wonder that Job should have failed to have fight sufficient to protect him from Satans attack. But having Gods glorious promises so easily accessible, let us grasp them by faith and step forth into the glorious liberty of the sons of God, rather than remain grubbing in Jobs ash heap for an excuse to remain in bondage to sickness and oppression of Satan.
God did not afflict Job (Job 2:7): "Satan smote Job with sores boils" Even this he could not do without Gods permission. In his desperation, Job examined his attitude toward God, and through the struggles of his soul, found a new relationship with God. True, he had feared God, and had striven to do right and to avoid evil, but now, when his wife urged him to curse God and die (Job 2:9), and his friends accused him of every kind of sin, calling them by name, job discovered that only one thing remained a firm anchor in his fast changing world. In his anguish he cried, "Though he slay me, yet will I trust him." Job 13:15. God could not disregard such faith as that. Immediately God began to work toward Jobs deliverance. he revealed Himself to Job in such a glorious flash of splendor as has seldom been equaled in His dealings with any one ma. In the light of this revelation, Job had a fine opportunity to compare his own righteousness with that of his maker, and found himself sadly lacking. He approached God then, not in a spirit of self righteousness, but in true humility and repentance (Job 42:6) mixed with faith. He was even willing to pray for the deliverance of his accusers, and "the Lord turned again the captivity of Job when he prayed for his friends" Job 42:10. But the most beautiful part of the whole story is found in the concluding verses of the book of Job. After Job had repented of his self righteousness and lack of trust, and has proven his humility and forgiveness by praying for his friends, and God had set him free from the CAPTIVITY of Satan, we see Job restored to all his former glory, and even more than he had at the beginning. He lived another one hundred and forty years, and there is no record that he ever had another boil to annoy him in all that time!
If you have been following Jobs example, sitting in the ash heap bemoaning your fate, and blaming it upon God, better take another look at your example. Place your trust in God, as Job did, though it may seem to lead only to death. Start searching the Scriptures, reading prayerfully, and as though you had never heard those explanations men have added by their traditions. Look to God HIMSELF to find the caus of your sicknes, and when you ahve found the casue GET RID OF IT. Like Job, you will be set free from bondage. God is just the same today! The enemies of the gospel of healing have attempted to point out that if an example can be found of one who was a true child of God, whom God could not or would not heal, no guarantee can be given that God will heal all who meet the conditions. Seeing beforehand this attempt to discredit His work, the Lord has carefully shown us in His Word the REASONS for those sicknesses which did persist for a time in the presence of the mighty miracle-working powers of Christ "worked... confirming the word with sins following." Mark 16:20. In this regard we will deal briefly with the cases often mentioned, having to do with the ministry of Paul, by whose hands God wrought special miracles (Acts 19:11-12) so that not only those whom he touched were healed, but even men and women who were hindered from contacting him personally were healed of diseases and delivered from evil spirits, when handkerchiefs of aprons were brought to them from Pauls body.
We are told that his fellow soldier and companion in labor, Epaphroditus, became sick while in the company of Paul that he was nigh unto death. In fact, these are Pauls own words (Php 2:27). However, Paul does not stop here, but in the same verse declares that "God had mercy on him," so that now he is able to make the long journey from Rome to Philippi, despite the difficulty of such a journey in those times, showing the Philippians by his presence, the greatness of the power and love of God in his behalf. Not only this, but in verse 30, Paul explains the reason for the sickness. "Because of the work of Christ he was nigh unto death, not regarding his life, to supply your lack of service toward me." The gifts of healing do not guarantee an unlimited supply of strength and energy to the human body. It is possible even in so worthy a work as carrying the Gospel and praying for the sick, to tax the body beyond what God has made it able to endure, with sickness as a result. But even here God shows Himself merciful, and, while a period of absolute rest, or convalescence, may be required, there is no need to be permanently defeated because of a nervous breakdown or other illness caused by overwork.
Then we are told that even Paul had his private physician - Luke = who traveled with him to watch after his health. It is true that Luke had been trained as a physician (Colossians 4:14). However, there is as much reason to declare that Jesus took Matthew with Him as His private tax collector, as to assert that Luke was chosen to go with Paul because of his skill as a physician. There is no record in the Scripture that Luke ever treated either Paul or any sick person in any place that they visited, in the capacity of a physician. Only once is his being a physician mentioned. As author of the books of Luke and Acts, he records many miraculous healings. It is noteworthy that every one of them is recorded as one hundred percent miraculous. Never once is it recorded that either Luke or any other physician applied any medical aid as supplemental to the miracle-working power of God. No doubt, Luke, being a physician, was especially impressed with the ease with which Christ and his Spirit-filled disciples relieved diseases which the physicians had spent much time and effort trying in vain to heal. In fact, it is Luke who records that "A woman having an issue of blood twelve years, WHCIH HAD SPENT ALL HERL LIVING UPON PHYSICIANS, NEITHER COULD BE HEALED OF ANY, came behind him and touched the border of his garment: and immediately her issue of blood was staunched." Luke 8:43-44. No doubt is it true that faithful physicians have relieved much human suffering, but there are plenty of people in the world today who have never learned of the healing power of God, to keep all the physicians busy, and to fully justify their existence in the world. Let us know the Great Physician, wait at His feet instead of in the overcrowded waiting room of the earthly physician, to find relief, full and free, with out money and without price, and may we add, with out medicine or surgery, that our bodies may be well and strong for his glory. Surely He is worthy of every testimonial to His skill and faithfulness that His loving followers can give.
If many who have been long sick would spend half the time waiting upon God that they have spent waiting to be treated by some of the famous physicians of out time if only they would be as diligent to heed His directions and carry out His commands as they are in having prescriptions filled and carrying out the orders given by earthy physicians - there would be no need for the question, considered in the next chapter, "WHY MANY DO NOT RECEIVE HEALING." They would be healed.
Start today to examine yourself according to the Word of God. Find what he says to do and DO
IT. These treatments are not in the experimental stage. They are tried and proven unconditionally guaranteed to be one hundredpercenteffective when used according to instructions. As a final proof that God denies healing to some, they quote, "Lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. For this thing I besought the lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for ghee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I take pleasure in my infirmities." 2 Corinthians 12:7-10.
Whatever Pauls thorn may have been, Gods grace was purely sufficient for him, for the list of his achievements and sufferings given in Chapter 11 would certainly be a sufficient test of grace. But to say that Pauls thorn was a physical defect would certainly require some backing beyond what is found in this passage of scripture, for sickness is not mentioned. The strongest advocates of the idea what the thorn was a physical weakness dare not go further that to say, "It has been conjectured that Pauls thorn in the flesh was chronic ophtalmia." (Scholfield Bible, page 1239.) Surely in the face of the glorious promises of healing given boldly in the Word of God, something stronger than a mere conjecture that Paul was sick, should be required to cancel such strong promises. The term, "thorn in the flesh," has been so commonly connected in our thinking with sickness that it has come to have that meaning to many readers of Scripture. But let us examine its use in other scriptures, to see if that was the thought of the writer. In Numbers 33:55; the Israelites were warned, "If ye will not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you, hen it shall come to pass, that those which ye let remain shall be pricks in your eyes and THORNS IN YOUR SIDES." This warning is repeated in Joshua 23:13 and in Judges 2:3. Thus the thorn refers, not to something within the body, but to annoyance from without, causes by people. Paul speaks of his particular thorn as being "a messenger of Satan to me." The word "buffet" means to strike as with the hand; to contend with. In the list of infirmities in which Paul chooses to glory (2 Corinthians 11:23-33), there is no sickness nor blindness mentioned, but rather persecutions. He does mention weariness and painfulness, but would not beatings, stoning, hunger and cold be sufficient cause for weariness and painfulness?
After reviewing the list of Pauls sufferings and accomplishments, would it not require more faith in the miraculous to believe that he was carried through all these things while suffering from physical illness, than to believe that he was kept in health by the power of God?
God is not a respecter of persons (Col. 13:25). His promises are YOURS! Let no man beguile you.
Believe the word of God, and not the traditions which have been built up around about it. As the flame of your faith is made to burn brightly, no longer wavering, you may ask God WHATSOEVER HE HAS PROMISED! It shall be done unto you!