Good morning Jeanette,
Here are some things to think about as you start your day today:
First of all, the best medicine is ALWAYS found in God’s Word:
Proverbs 4:20-23
20 My son, give attention to my words;
Incline your ear to my sayings.
21 Do not let them depart from your eyes;
Keep them in the midst of your heart;
22 For they are life to those who find them,
And health to all their flesh.
23 Keep your heart with all diligence,
For out of it spring the issues of life.
And the next thing we need to remember, is that WHATEVER YOU may be going through, God ALWAYS promises that He will make a way!
According to God’s word, even going back to the OT, God forgives and heals…
Psalms 103:1-5
The Legacy Standard Bible
Bless Yahweh, O My Soul
A Psalm of David.
1 Bless Yahweh, O my soul,
And all that is within me, bless His holy name.
2 Bless Yahweh, O my soul,
And forget none of His benefits;
3 Who pardons ALL your iniquities,
Who heals ALL your diseases;
4 Who redeems your life from the pit,
Who crowns you with lovingkindness and compassion;
5 Who satisfies your years with good things,
So that your youth is renewed like the eagle.
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Since the first humans rebelled against God’s instructions, the curse of sin, sickness and death has been upon the entire human race.
But God has provided the means for victory over the consequences of this curse.
This psalm lists God’s benefits for His people: forgiveness of sins, healing for diseases and the gifts of spiritual freedom and eternal life.
Forgiveness is the first and most important gift we can receive from God because it restores our relationship with Him and rescues us from spiritual destruction (v. 4).
Physical healing is also part of God’s complete salvation–a benefit available to those who have received forgiveness and a personal relationship with God (see Jas 5:15-16).
Matthew 8:16-17
New King James Version
Many Healed in the Evening
16 When evening had come, they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed. And He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick, 17 that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying:
“He Himself took our infirmities
And bore our sicknesses.”
God Provides the Healing We Need
(1) The problem of sickness and disease is directly related to the problem of sin and death–the consequences of humankind’s first disobedience and defiance toward God (see Ge 3).
Choosing to disobey the clear command of God separated the first humans (Adam and Eve) from God and His perfect plans.
Their act of disobedience introduced suffering and sorrow into the world and affected the choices of every human being who ever lives.
Medical science views the causes of sickness and disease in physiological, mental and emotional terms.
While these things clearly can affect our health, the Bible presents spiritual causes as the source of the problem:
(a) sin, which has affected our spiritual and physical form and design (e.g., Jn 5:5, 14) and
(b) Satan, who works to harm and destroy us in every way (e.g., Ac 10:38; cf. Mk 9:17, 20, 25; Lk 13:11; Ac 19:11-12; Rev 12:9).
(2) Through the life and sacrifice of His Son, Jesus, God provides freedom, restoration and other benefits that far exceed the pain, destruction and other consequences of humankind’s sin and rebellion against God.
For sin, God provides forgiveness (cf. Mt 26:28; 10:43; 13:38; Col 1:13-14);
For death, God provides resurrection and eternal life (cf. Ac 4:2; Mt 10:30; Jn 3:15; Php 3:11); and
For sickness, God provides healing (cf. Ps 103:1-5; Lk 4:18; 5:17-26; Jas 5:14-15).
For this reason, Jesus’ ministry while He was on earth focused on three areas:
(a) teaching God’s Word,
(b) preaching about the opportunity to turn from our own sinful way, entrust our lives to Christ and follow God’s plan (which deals with the sin problem) and the benefits of God’s kingdom (which restore the life purposes God intended for us) and
(c) healing EVERY KIND OF SICKNESS and DISEASE among the people (Mt 4:23-24).
God’s will (i.e. His plans, desires and purposes that reflect His character and goals for humankind) concerning healing is revealed in four main ways throughout His written Word.
(1) God’s own pronouncement, or direct statement.
In Ex 15:26, God promised health and healing for His people if they remained faithful to His covenant (i.e., his “life agreement” with them based on His laws and promises) and His commands (see Ex 15:26).
There was a double focus to His pronouncement:
(a) “I will not bring on you any of the diseases [as judgment] I brought on the Egyptians” and
(b) “I am the Lord, who heals you.” God continued to be the physician, or healer, of His people throughout the OT whenever they truly sought a deeper relationship with Him through prayer and obedience to His Word (cf. 2Ki 20:5; Ps 103:3).
(2) Jesus’ ministry.
As God’s Son in human form, Jesus was and is the exact representation of God’s nature and character (Heb 1:3; cf. Col 1:15; 2:9).
In His earthly ministry (Mt 4:23-24; 8:14-16; 9:35; 15:28; Mk 1:32-34, 40-41; Lk 4:40; Ac 10:38), Jesus revealed God’s will in action (Jn 6:38; 14:10), proving that it is in God’s heart and nature to HEAL ALL WHO ARE SICK, troubled or oppressed by the devil.
(3) The provision of Christ’s atonement (i.e., the “sin-covering” sacrifice of His own perfect and sinless life, which He willingly gave in His death on the cross to pay the price for our offenses against God; Isa 53:4-5; Mt 8:16-17; 1Pe 2:24).
Jesus’ death was more than enough to provide complete freedom and restoration for the whole person–spirit, soul and body.
Satan uses sin and sickness as tools to destroy us, but God provides forgiveness and healing in order to restore our relationship with Him and make us whole–spiritually and physically (cf. Ps 103:3; Jas 5:14-16).
Christ’s followers should humbly and faithfully pray for and accept EVERYTHING that Christ’s sacrifice provides–including the healing of our bodies (see Isa 53:5)!
(4) The ongoing ministry of the church. Jesus commissioned (i.e., assigned a task, along with the authority to fulfill that task) and empowered His twelve disciples to heal the sick as part of their efforts to spread the message of God’s kingdom (Lk 9:1-2, 6).
Later, He sent out seventy of His faithful followers to do the same (Lk 10:1, 8-9, 19).
After Jesus returned to heaven and sent the Holy Spirit to empower His followers for service (cf. Ac 2), the early church continued the healing ministry of Jesus as part of the ongoing effort to spread the message about Jesus (Ac 3:1-10; 4:30; 5:16; 8:7; 9:34; 14:8-10; 19:11-12; cf. Mk 16:18; 1Co 12:9, 28, 30; Jas 5:14-16).
The NT records three ways that God’s healing power and faith were revealed and passed on through the church:
(a) Jesus’ followers laying hands on others with faith that God would heal (Mk 16:15-18; Ac 9:17),
(b) people confessing any known sin, followed by spiritual leaders anointing the sick with oil and praying in faith that God would heal them (Jas 5:14-16) and
(c) spiritual gifts of healings given to the church (1Co 12:9).
HINDRANCES TO HEALING.
Sometimes there are obstacles, or barriers, to receiving healing from God, such as:
(1) holding on to and refusing to confess sin (Jas 5:16),
(2) living in a way that has opened one’s life to the influence or control of demons (Lk 13:11-13),
(3) fear, or deep anxiety, which is the opposite of showing faith (Pr 3:5-8; Php 4:6-7),
(4) past disappointments that block present faith (Mk 5:26; Jn 5:5-7),
(5) other people who try to keep us from getting to God (Mk 10:48),
(6) accepting teaching that is not true or not in agreement with God’s Word as revealed in the Bible (Mk 3:1-5; 7:13),
(7) failure on the part of leaders to pray for people who need healing (Mk 11:22-24; Jas 5:14-16),
(8) failure of the church to accept and use the gifts of miracles and healings as God desires (Ac 4:29-30; 6:8; 8:5-6; 1Co 12:9-10, 29-31; Heb 2:4),
(9) unbelief and lack of faith (Mk 6:3-6; 9:19, 23-24) and
(10) self-centered behavior (1Co 11:29-30).
There are times, however, when it is simply not clear why godly people remain physically ill and are not healed (e.g., Gal 4:13; 1Ti 5:23; 2Ti 4:20).
Yet, in other situations,God chooses to work through difficult circumstances or to take His beloved followers to heaven during an illness (cf. 2Ki 13:14).
To be certain, sickness is not necessarily a result of an individual’s own sin or spiritual failure.
Trouble and suffering affect everyone in this world, which is in spiritual revolt and opposition against God.
STEPS TO TAKE.
What can you do when praying and waiting for God to heal you?
(1) Be sure you are in a right relationship with God and others.
Holding on to sin, unforgiveness or a bad attitude will affect your relationship with God and keep you from fully experiencing His purposes and blessings (Mt 6:33; 1Co 11:27-30; Jas 5:16; see Jn 15:7).
(2) Pursue a deeper relationship with God through consistent time in prayer and His Word (Ro 12:3; 1Co 12:9; Php 2:13; see Mt 17:20).
This will give you a greater awareness of God’s constant presence in your life, which will inspire your faith and keep you from doing things that are not pleasing to him.
(3) Fill your life to overflowing with God’s Word (Jn 15:7; Ro 10:17).
Read and study it as much as possible; constantly think about and look for ways to apply the message, principles and promises of God’s Word to your daily life.
(4) If you are not receiving the healing you desire and expect, continue to trust God (Jn 15:1-7).
Examine your life to see what changes God may desire to work in your life.
Consider how you can grow closer to Him through difficult times.
NEVER GIVE UP HOPE that God will work things out for the best and for His highest purposes (cf. Ro 8:28).
(5) Ask the leaders of your church to pray for you, anointing you with oil as a symbol of the presence and power of God’s Spirit in your life (Jas 5:14-16).
Also ask family members and friends to pray for you.
(6) Attend a service where a person with a respected healing ministry is present (cf. Ac 5:15-16; 8:5-7).
(7) Expect a miracle. Trust in Christ’s power (Mt 7:8; 19:26); He is certainly able to do anything you ask if it is in agreement with his highest purposes for you.
(8) Rejoice about your relationship with God–whether or not healing comes right away (Php 4:4, 11-13).
Spend personal time worshiping the Lord every day.
(9) Understand that simply because God has not answered your prayers over a period of time does not mean that He has denied or said “No” to your requests.
His methods and timing are often not what we expect.
Sometimes God has a larger purpose in mind that, in the proper time, will result in greater honor for God (cf. Jn 9:3; 11:4, 14-15, 45; 2Co 12:7-10) and greater good for us (Ro 8:28).
(10) Realize that if you are sincerely devoted to Christ, God will NEVER abandon you or forget you.
He loves you so much that He has literally (i.e., physically) engraved you on the palms of His hands (i.e., when He was nailed to the cross as He gave His life for our sins, Isa 49:15-16).
SELAH (let us pause and calmly think about these things)
Have a blessed day!
Shalom shalom,
Skip 🫶
SB SALT AND LIGHT MINISTRIES 