In the church, there are many different ideas on the subject of healing and divine health. Some of these ideas come out of traditions and experiences while others originate from questions or a lack of understanding of what the Bible teaches.
While there may be sincerity behind the notion, that does not mean it is true. It is important always to look at what the Bible says and base our conclusions on the truth of scripture.
Many people are held in sickness and bondage because they believe incorrectly about healing. In this post, I will address some of these unbiblical concepts.
I will start by sharing some ideas that people have about sickness and healing.
-God uses disease to discipline people for their disobedience. -God uses illness as a sign of greater judgment coming unless there is repentance and trust in Him. -God uses disease to punish people for their sin. -God uses sickness to humble the proud. -God uses sickness to test man’s faithfulness or lack of it to God. -Sickness helps to remind men of impending death. -God allows us to get sick so we can identify with others. -Sickness helps to make men think seriously of God. -This sickness is my burden God has called me to carry; this is my cross. -Sickness helps to soften men’s hearts. -Sickness helps to keep us level and humble. -Sickness sometimes will bring glory to God. Here is something interesting. I find many times; it’s people who are not sick who are promoting these things. Usually, they say them to try to encourage the person struggling with sickness, not realizing they are doing more harm than good. Imagine the person struggling with cancer, not sure they will live, now thinking they are sick because God is either humbling them or disciplining them. How does that person then believe God for healing? These ideas and others like them are not Biblical and keep many who are sick from looking to Jesus as their healer. Jesus is the exact image of the Father, the perfect expression of God and His will. Jesus made it clear. He only ever did what He saw His Father do, and only said what He heard His Father say. Jesus is our perfect example. I have looked through the life of Christ, the Gospels and specifically the area of healing. I have concluded that Jesus healed many thousands of people, that He came across every kind of sickness and disease known at that time, that He met a wide variety of people, good, bad, and from all walks of life. I would think that within the scope of His ministry, if there were a situation where it was not God’s will to heal someone, Jesus would’ve come across at least one, and it would’ve been recorded.
However, throughout the course of Jesus’ ministry, you will never hear or read the following.
-It’s not my will to heal you.
-You must stay sick because you need to learn something.
-You must stay sick because of sin. – In fact, to the crippled man, He said in John 5:14, “See, you have become whole. Sin no more lest something worse happens to you” Indicating the man’s state of sickness originated because of sin and yet Jesus healed him. Here is another verse to think about. It says in John 9:1-3, As Jesus passed by, He saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked Him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned. But it happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him.
-I will not heal you because you need discipline – why is God doing it now?
Jesus never said you must bare what He has already taken upon Himself for you. Jesus never said that staying sick will bring glory to His name. In fact, the Bible gives us a different understanding. In Isaiah 53, it says that Jesus bore our sickness and pains. Why? He suffered in our place, so we wouldn't have to suffer. The Psalmist says in Psalm 103:1-3, "Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits, who forgives all your iniquities, who heals all your diseases..." Glory is given to God because God through Jesus has made a way for our sins to be forgiven and our diseases to be healed. It’s interesting; sometimes the healing movement is criticized because some pastors and teachers have taught that those sick shouldn’t go to doctors, get medication, or seek help. Incidentally, I don't hold that opinion in most cases. For arguments sake, let's think it through. If it is God’s will for us to be sick. If a disease is from God and He is trying to humble us, or teach us something. If God is disciplining or correcting us, then anything we do to seek relief or help would be violating God’s will. If it were true then going to a doctor, nurse, hospital, or receiving any medical treatment would mean we are stepping outside the will of God, disobeying Him and sinning. Thankfully that is not the case.
If you are sick today, do not listen to man's thoughts regardless of how good they sound. Listen to what God's Word says. Jesus is our healer. It is God's will for you to be made whole.