Roadblocks on the Road to Divine Health

Details

Category: Healing And Health

Published on Sunday, 05 April 2009 05:54

Written by Ryan Hicks

ROADBLOCKS ON THE ROAD TO DIVINE HEALTH

By Ryan Hicks

Chapter 1

God Uses Sickness and Disease to Teach us Lessons

Does God use sickness and disease to teach us lessons? All you have to do is open up your Bible to find out that this is wrong, although many people have been taught this by the religionists of our day. You may wind up learning a lesson from being sick or diseased, but that does not mean that God used that sickness and disease to teach lessons. Jesus spoke of people who teach man's traditions as the word of God in many Scriptures. Let's look at four verses in which Jesus deals with this subject:

Matthew 15:9
9 But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

Mark 7:7,9,13
7 Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
9 ...Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.
13 Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.

Jesus did not take it too lightly when men taught their traditions as God's word. This is exactly what religion has done when people say, "God uses sickness and disease to teach us lessons."

This belief was not learned from the word of God, because it is not in the Bible. You can look if you want, but I assure you it is not there. Religionists have believed the devil's word, rather than God's word.

Well, if the Bible does not teach that doctrine, then where did it come from? The traditions of men. Religion has passed down this belief through rebellion and apostasy in the Dark Ages. It has been taught ever since as God's word, but it is a lie from the pits of hell!

I know some religious people are getting mad right now as they read this, but it is true. All true believers want to base their doctrine and beliefs on God's word, and not man's vain traditions.

Many times in the New Testament, under the New Covenant, not the Old, the reason for sickness and disease is addressed. Let's look at one of those times.

1 Corinthians 5:1-5
1 It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father's wife.
2 And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you.
3 For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed.
4 In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ,
5 To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

There was a man in the Corinthian church who had committed fornication with his father's wife (step-mother). Paul rebuked the Corinthian church for allowing that man to stay in their congregation.

He commanded them in the name of the Lord Jesus to deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved.

The purpose in this was the hope that through allowing Satan to physically afflict this man with sickness and disease, that the man would repent of his evil deed and come back to the Lord.

The important thing to note is that Paul told them to deliver such a one unto Satan. If Paul taught the false doctrine that men teach today about sickness and disease, he would have said, "Deliver such a one unto God for the destruction of the flesh."

The reason Paul did not say that is because God does not afflict His children with sickness and disease, Satan does. Another interesting thing to note is that the physical affliction was allowed by the church, and was because of sin. It was for punishment, not to teach the man a lesson. Paul's desire was to see the man repent after Satan had inflicted him with sickness and disease. The man did not learn anything from this affliction. It was to bring him to a place where he decided that holiness with health and blessing is better than sin with sickness and disease.

The deliverance of the man unto Satan was effective, because in the next letter Paul tells the Corinthian church to forgive him (2 Corinthians 2:6-7).

Let's look at another instance where the reason for sickness and disease is given.

1 Corinthians 11:23-30
23 For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread:
24 And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.
25 After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.
26 For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come.
27 Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.
28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.
29 For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body.
30 For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.

Not rightly discerning the Lord's body is another reason why a believer will get sickness, disease, and even die from their sicknesses and diseases. We must discern that the Lord's body was broken for our healing and health, and His blood was shed for our redemption (Isaiah 53:4-5; 1 Peter 2:24; Ephesians 1:7; Colossians 1:14).

The book of James also shows that sickness and disease can come upon a believer because of sin (James 5:14-16). That is not to say that sin is always the reason why someone is sick, but it is the reason many more times than most people would like to admit.

God does not use sickness and disease to teach us a lesson. Now you may learn a lesson while being sick and diseased, but that does not mean that it is God's will for you to be sick.

If you were to jump off a four-story building and splat on the ground, you would probably learn a lesson. That lesson would be that you should not jump off buildings! This is a ridiculous illustration, but so is the false doctrine of God using sickness and disease to teach us a lesson.

The point is that you can learn a lesson from anything! Do not assume that because you learned a lesson from your sickness and disease, that it was God's will for you to be afflicted.

If you want to know how God really teaches us lessons, then let's look in 2 Timothy.

2 Timothy 3:16-17
16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

The Holy Scriptures, the word of God, reproves us and corrects us. The word instructs us in the way of righteousness, that we may be perfect and thoroughly furnished (fully equipped) unto all good works!

People that teach and believe that God uses sickness and disease to teach us lessons are saying that the sickness and disease does a better job at teaching us a lesson than God's word does. That is why the devil pushes this doctrine on people who are just unlearned enough in the word of God to accept the doctrines of men as the word of God.

The word of God is our correction. The word teaches us lessons, through the Holy Spirit's leading. Stop lying on God, by saying that God is dependent on using sickness and disease to get His will accomplished. This false doctrine exalts the devil's sickness and disease, and lowers God to the devil's level.

It actually makes God seem submissive to the devil, because of the fact it relies on the belief that God uses sickness and disease. Thus, God is made into a criminal Who would be locked up in this country. Why? Because we call that being an accomplice in a crime. This doctrine is false, and clearly seen as false by all those who are born-again, have studied God's word, and have a personal relationship with the Holy Spirit.

Another false doctrine the devil has inspired is that the Apostle Paul was sick. The devil uses this doctrine to hold believers in bondage. Many believers will use this false doctrine as an excuse for their being sick and diseased.

This false teaching still has strong roots in many mainline denominations. The devil is making a mockery out of the laypeople and preachers in these denominations.

This doctrine has been passed down for years by false teachers in pulpits and seminaries worldwide. Obviously, the teachers of such a doctrine were not looking for God's word to back up such a theory, because God's word tells us a different story.

2 Corinthians 12:7-10
7 And 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.
8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.
9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

Some say that Paul was given a thorn in the flesh because he was prideful. That is false! If Paul were prideful then Jesus could not have told him, "My grace is sufficient for thee." Why? Because:

James 4:6
6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.

If Paul was prideful, then God would resist him. Paul was not prideful, he was humble, and that is why the Lord gave grace to him. There we have the first false teaching about this Scripture proven false. Let's go on.

What is the "thorn in the flesh?" The theologians and false teachers today say it was sickness and disease. Paul answered the question of what the "thorn in the flesh" was when he talked about it.

2 Corinthians 12:7
7 And 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.

The thorn in the flesh was the messenger of Satan. The word translated messenger here is the Greek word angelos, which means angel. Paul's thorn in the flesh was not sickness, but one of Satan's angels sent to buffet him.

The fact that the messenger of Satan buffets Paul shows it not to be sickness, because buffet means to hit or fight. This simply shows us that Satan's angel was going to be repeatedly attacking Paul.

Let's also look and see how a thorn in the flesh is used throughout Scripture.

Numbers 33:55
55 But if ye will not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you; then it shall come to pass, that those which ye let remain of them shall be pricks in your eyes, and thorns in your sides, and shall vex you in the land wherein ye dwell.

Ezekiel 28:24

24 And there shall be no more a pricking brier unto the house of Israel, nor any grieving thorn of all that are round about them, that despised them; and they shall know that I am the Lord God.

Joshua 23:13
13 Know for a certainty that the Lord your God will no more drive out any of these nations from before you; but they shall be snares and traps unto you, and scourges in your sides, and thorns in your eyes, until ye perish from off this good land which the Lord your God hath given you.

Judges 2:3
3 Wherefore I also said, I will not drive them out from before you; but they shall be as thorns in your sides, and their gods shall be a snare unto you.

These Scriptures show us without a shadow of a doubt that a thorn in the flesh, as seen in the Bible, deals with persons becoming problems for God's people. Nowhere is a thorn in the flesh seen as sickness and disease.

In all of these Scriptures but one, God told His people to do something about the "thorns in the flesh." They were not told to pray and ask God to deliver them, they were told to handle it themselves.

2 Corinthians 12:8
8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.

Paul prayed for the Lord to take the messenger of Satan from him. Why? Because the messenger caused many infirmities in Paul's life. Paul was told that the Lord's grace was sufficient. That means that God's anointing and Paul's authority could have taken care of it, if Paul would use that authority.

Luke 10:18-20
18 And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.
19 Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.
20 Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.

All believers have been given power over the enemy and his wicked spirits. "Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world" (1 John 4:4). Paul, as a born-again believer, had the victory over this messenger of Satan, but he had to enforce it. God is not raising spiritually lazy people.

The word infirmities does not always mean sickness or disease, and in this case it means persecutions and problems, not sickness or disease. Let's see what Paul said his infirmities were:

2 Corinthians 11:23-30
23 Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours 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 I was beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep;
26 In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;
27 In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.
28 Besides those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.
29 Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not?
30 If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities.

Paul listed numerous persecutions and problems as his infirmities. Not one time did he mention sickness or disease. Actually, after the realization of all the persecutions Paul went through, it is unrealistic to think he was sick at all. No one could go through all that while being extremely sick and in pain like some think Paul was.

2 Corinthians 12:9-10
9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

Paul was saying that by glorying in his infirmities (persecutions, problems, and trials), that the power of Christ would rest upon him. The messenger of Satan was buffeting Paul where ever he went. That is to say that the messenger of Satan was always stirring up people to persecute and cause problems for Paul's ministry.

Another Scripture that is twisted and distorted to say that Paul was sickly and diseased is in Galatians.

Galatians 4:13-16
13 Ye know how through infirmity of the flesh I preached the gospel unto you at the first.
14 And my temptation which was in my flesh ye despised not, nor rejected; but received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus.
15 Where is then the blessedness ye spake of? for I bear you record, that, if it had been possible, ye would have plucked out your own eyes, and have given them to me.
16 Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?

Paul described His infirmity in the flesh in 2 Corinthians 11. It was not sickness, but rather constant persecution for the gospel's sake. Paul had a temptation or trial in the flesh.

The church at Galatia had received Paul as an angel, even as Christ Jesus. This simply refers to how they loved and treated him.

Where Paul said that the members at the church at Galatia "would have plucked out your own eyes, and have given them to me," that is not talking about Paul having an eye disease as some theologians falsely teach. It is simply a figure of speech. It would be like saying, "I would give my right arm for you," or like some say today about high prices, "It cost me an arm and an leg." If someone told you that, you would not think they really gave their arm and leg for the item they purchased. You would just think that the item was expensive. We should not make doctrine out of Paul's figure of speech!

Galatians 6:11
11 Ye see how large a letter I have written unto you with mine own hand.

Most non-Bible believing theologians and preachers use this Scripture as "proof" that Paul had an eye disease.

This is only Paul telling them that he had written this whole letter himself, where other times he had dictated his letters to someone who wrote it for him. Also, if it is true that the Book of Hebrews was attached to the Book of Galatians, like many believe, then that would also explain how this would be a large letter.

If Paul was saying that he had an eye disease and had written in large letters (which it does not say, it says A LARGE LETTER, not IN LARGE LETTERS), he would have been totally blind. The letters used in Paul's day were like our capital letters, only they were about an inch tall. Obviously, Paul could not have written his message in larger letters.

As we have seen by studying the "proof texts" used by people who teach Paul was sick, Paul was not sick. To assume so is to go against the plain meaning of the texts. Once again sickness as God's will is disproved by God's word.

The belief that God never promised to heal all is a false doctrine that the false church has thought up to make an excuse for faithless and anemic preaching. This doctrine, like many other doctrines being preached today, has no Scriptural basis, and mocks what Jesus did on the cross.

Isaiah 53:4-5
4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

Matthew 8:16-17
16 When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick:
17 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses.

Jesus has borne our griefs (sicknesses), and carried our sorrows (pains). With His stripes we are healed! This healing is not talking about our spirit getting healed, as some teach. Our spirit gets born-again when we are saved, it does not get healed (John 3:5-8).

Physical healing and forgiveness of sins go together (Psalms 103:3; Matthew 8:17; 1 Peter 2:24). Remember, Jesus forgave sins and healed people on Earth.

Peter, after having seen his Lord and Saviour die, be resurrected, and ascend into heaven to sit at the right hand of God the Father, said this about Jesus' redemptive work:

1 Peter 2:24
24 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.

Jesus, bearing our sins on the cross, paid for our salvation. The stripes (wounds) Jesus took from the soldiers paid for our health.

God has done everything He will ever do about your health and healing. All you must do is receive the healing Jesus has already paid for on the cross. Do not beg God to heal you! He already did so on the cross! You must step out in faith, and receive it (see Mark 11:22-24).

Think about it this way. Do you think God would save you if you prayed some doubt filled prayer begging Him to save you? It is not likely except that He has great mercy on you, for the Bible says, "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him" (Hebrews 11:6).

If you confess God's word for your healing, and stand on God's word by faith, you will be healed. Take God's word like you would medicine, in doses. Confess that by Jesus' stripes you were healed, past tense. Faith puts things that are promised for you now in the present, not in the future (Hebrews 11:1). Do not confess the sickness or disease, do not deny its reality either. Just realize that God's word overrides the circumstance.

The weakest argument against Divine Health is that we would never die if God wanted us to be healed.

1 Corinthians 15:26
26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.

Death has not been defeated yet. Sickness and disease has! Death is the enemy of God and man.

Hebrews 9:27
27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

Everyone will shed this body. That is the reason God allows death still, because we need to shed their natural body and be glorified in their body by having their body glorified as a resurrected spirit body.

That is why the believers that are alive at Jesus' coming in the clouds will not see death (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18). They will not experience death as we know it, but they will shed the corruptible body, and put on an incorruptible body (1 Corinthians 15:39-57).

Death has nothing to do with walking in Divine Health, and makes all such arguments void.

The belief that we would be healed if God wanted us healed is nothing more than people blaming God for their failure to receive healing. We should see the demonic influence behind such a belief. The devil would love for you to believe that everything that happens to you is "God's will."

This belief is as senseless as saying, "Well if God wants to save me, He will save me!" This is false, because we know that Scriptures says,

2 Peter 3:9
9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

God wants all to come to repentance, but not everyone does. Actually, very few come to repentance (Matthew 7:14). The fact is that God's will only manifests in a person's life when it is accepted. God never forces His will upon mankind, but will get His will accomplished.

If you choose to allow the devil to steal your health, then you will be sick and diseased. Do not blame God! God said,

Deuteronomy 30:19
19 I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live.

Man has a free will that they can choose life or death, blessing or cursing. It is up to you which one you choose. Do not blame God for your lack of health just because you choose death and cursing by your actions, thoughts, and words.

The argument that God allows sickness and disease is answered in Chapter 5, but must be addressed. Many people have a false understanding of God's Sovereignty, so they blame everything that happens on God. They do this to the exclusion of the enemy, Satan. Thus, everything becomes "God's will," even if the devil is behind it.

This is a false idea and belief system about God. Yes, God can do whatever He wants (Psalms 115:3), but He cannot violate or contradict His word. If He were to do so, then He would have lied, and we know that God cannot lie (Numbers 23:19; Hebrews 6:16-19).

If we are looking through carnal eyes we could also say that God allows sin. God does not allow it, man does! You choose whether you sin or not. God does not make the choice for you, because if He did you would be nothing more than a robot!

Does that mean that we cannot be freed from sin? No! Of course all men can come to the cross and receive freedom from sin (Matthew 1:21; John 8:30-36; Hebrews 12:14; 1 Peter 4:1; etc.). So, why do people think that you cannot be freed from sickness and disease?

Jesus paid for both sin and sickness through His beating and crucifixion (Isaiah 53:4-5; 1 Peter 2:24). Why do people today assume that Jesus only wants to free us from one of the things He paid for on the cross (i.e. sin)?

We need to accept the full benefit of the cross and our redemption through Christ's shed blood. Jesus bore your sicknesses and diseases (Isaiah 53:4; Matthew 8:17). So, why try to bare something He already bore for you?

No, sickness and disease comes just like sin does, through man's free will. If you choose to reject Christ and go to hell, you cannot blame God. Likewise, if you choose to stay sick and diseased, you cannot blame that on God.

Healing and Divine Health is received just like salvation, by faith through grace (Mark 9:23; Luke 18:42; Acts 14:9; James 5:14-15). If you choose to reject one aspect of your salvation, God will not force it upon you. You will just go through life sick and diseased, because you chose to be. It is not that God allowed it, but rather that you allowed it!

If you would like the Lord to heal you then pray this prayer (or a prayer of faith like it):

Father, I come to you in the name of Thy Holy Child Jesus Christ. Stretch forth Thy holy hand and heal me. I believe Your word fully and accept the precious promises in it. I accept the healing that my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ paid for on the cross. I thank you Father for healing me! Amen! [Now just praise Him and thank him for it!]

Write me and tell me about what the Lord has done through this book. If you have any questions or desire more prayer please do not hesitate to contact me.

• < Prev
• Next >