Healing / Divine Health
Before reading this article it would be a good idea
to read the article entitled “Covenant Connection”, which can be accessed from
the home page of this web site.
“Covenant Connection” reveals our covenant with God through the sacrifice
of Jesus Christ on the cross. It also reveals that we are covenant children
with God through the seed of Abraham (Jesus Christ). We are Abraham’s seed, and
heirs according to the promise that God made to Abraham. It will give you the
background you need to fully understand this article and the benefits that
belong to you through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
To begin to fully understand what happened on the
cross and how it affects us in this world and for eternity, we must go
back to when God spoke through Isaiah the prophet foretelling the coming
Messiah. Let’s begin by looking at
Isaiah 52 & 53.
As many were astonied at thee; his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men. Isaiah 52:14
Remember that during the time that Jesus walked this earth, people were used to seeing other people brutally killed, and their bodies disfigured by various means. The scripture above, and the balance of Isaiah 53 is the foretelling of Christ’s death on the cross. It is interesting to note that his appearance “was marred more than any man”. The Hebrew meaning for the word ‘marred’ is disfigurement. This suggests very strongly that Jesus died a horrible death on the cross. Much worse than anything they had ever seen. Sometimes it is hard to understand the great love that God has toward us. That he would send his only Son to die this way, so that we could spend eternity with him.
Let’s continue with Isaiah 53. This is the prophecy of Christ on the cross. What you are about to read may be hard to accept. It is not my intention to convince you one way or the other. If anything spiritual is revealed to you, it will be by the presence and power of the Holy Spirit. God himself questioned who would believe his report of the salvation that was prophesied, and now is.
Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed? Isaiah 53:1
There is no question that the primary reason for the sacrifice of Jesus Christ was for the removal of sins. For without the removal of sin, all would be lost. There would be no hope beyond this life. So truly our focus is in understanding what happened on the cross, when sin is removed. Keep in mind that when sin entered into the world, the entire curse, which you can read in Deuteronomy 28 entered in with it. If you don’t believe that then, look around you. Sin and its affects is an unnatural state for man to be in. Obviously God did not intend for it to be this way. But just as Adam and Eve had a choice in the garden of Eden. You to will be able to choose after reading this article.
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. Deuteronomy 30:19
So lets begin with Isaiah 53:4-6
What I want to do, is look at the Hebrew meaning of the above underlined words, so we can get a better understanding of what was spoken here.
Now you may be thinking. Why didn’t God just come out and say all this in the first place? Well actually he did! If you were living back then and heard the prophet Isaiah speaking. You would have understood what he was talking about. So what Isaiah 53:4-6 is saying is this.
It seems to me that Christians are having a hard time believing that this could be true. If we were to look at this logically for a moment. If satan through Adam and Eve could bring all this sin, grief, pain, sickness and disease on mankind, then certainly at the very least God through Jesus Christ could counteract that. Or are we saying that God could not counteract with good the evil satan did? But the Word tells us that God was more than up to the task.
For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. Romans 5:19
Matthew 8:16,17 also confirms what Isaiah said. We read here that Jesus was healing many people of various problems, and why he was doing this.
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: That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses. Matthew 8:16,17
By the way the Greek meaning of the word infirmities here is “feebleness of body or mind, malady, disease, sickness”. Some well meaning Christians will try to argue the point that in Matthew 8:16,17, Jesus fulfilled prophecy, and that this was just a one time incident. Well if that’s true then Jesus didn’t think so. For he continued healing people. He never refused one person. When you consider that Jesus himself said that he never said or did anything unless God told him to. You then must believe that healing is Gods will, and he will never refuse anyone. Sin, sickness and disease are all closely related to each other. Sickness and disease did not exist in this world until sin came in. Let’s look at another instance where Jesus linked them together.
And he entered into a ship, and passed over, and came into his own city. And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee. And, behold, certain of the scribes said within themselves, This man blasphemeth. And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts? For whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk? But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house. Matthew 9:2-6
Notice that the first thing Jesus did was to forgive this man of his sins. But then the scribes got all bent out of shape, because in their minds nobody could forgive sins on this earth. Anyway that’s pretty easy to say “thy sins be forgiven thee”. Then Jesus proved to them that he had the power to forgive sins. He not only removed this mans sins, but also removed his sickness. Jesus was delivering this man from one of the curses of the law in Deuteronomy 28. Remember what the scripture said about this.
Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. Galatians 3:13,14
Many people believe that healing is not for today. That God may decide not to heal someone. That God may put sickness on you as a test or punishment. God does not ‘pick and choose’ who will get healed and who will not. Think about this for a moment. If you had two children, and they were both sick, and you had the resources to see to it that they both could receive the proper treatment to restore their health. How cruel would it be for you to decide, as a parent, that only one of them would be made well. Obviously you would not do that, because you love them both equally. Yet we as God’s children accuse God of that very same thing. We say that God will allow some of his children to remain sick and even die while others will be healed. We need to listen to what Jesus said. He made it very clear what he and God were up to, and what the devil had in mind.
The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. John10:10
Even when Jesus suffered and died on the cross, many blamed God for what he was suffering. But in reality we are the reason he had to go to the cross. It is our fault that he had to die the way that he did. Jesus took our place on the cross so that we could have eternal life with God.
Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 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. Isaiah 53:4,5
How ridiculous all of this becomes. Why can we not just accept by faith that God wants us well, spirit, soul and body.
Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth. 3 John 1:2
And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Thessalonians 5:23
Some will say. Why then are there so many people sick, and dying of some sort of sickness or disease? Let me ask the question. Why are there so many people who have not accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior? Is it because that salvation is no longer for today? Is it because God will not save some people or that God is willing to let them die in their sins and go to eternal damnation? God does not want anybody to die in their sins and suffer eternal damnation.
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. 2 Peter 3:9
I realize that it is easier for us to accept the fact that our sins have been removed. It is much harder to believe that a sickness or disease has been removed. But the Word of God is telling us, this should not be so. Sin, sickness and disease are all removed with the same faith and the same amount of energy. That is what Jesus is referring to in Matthew 8:16,17. “For whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk?” . I wonder what would happen, if we could actually see our sins. If our sins were actually visible on our body, just like sickness and disease. Would we still have the faith to believe that Jesus could remove them?
I believe part of the problem is that we focus much of our attention on what is going on around us. We look at what has happened to others and somehow act as though that has changed the Word of God. You cannot be moved by what happens to others, or for that matter what may be happening to you right now. If you are sick, then God wants you well! We are not to be moved by what we see in this world but only by the Word of God.
For we walk by faith, not by sight. 2 Corinthians 5:7
When it comes to health and healing many Christians run to the book of Job to prove that God may decide to put sickness on them. Sometimes I think people are going out of their way to have any excuse for their problems. Let’s put this issue of what happened to Job to rest once and for all! First let’s look at some scriptures about fear.
After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward. Genesis15:1
Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Luke12:32
And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last: I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death. Revelation1:17 ,18
There are many, many, many scriptures in the bible where God is telling (commanding) us to stop all this fear and worrying. These are just a few. But there is no question that God wants us to stop worrying before it destroys us.
There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. 1 John 4:18
If you are truly trusting in God, then you will not have fear and worry. Fear only opens the door for the devil to get a foothold in your life. It’s not God’s fault it’s ours! We are commanded not to give the devil any opportunity in our lives, but to resist him.
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. James 4:7
Now lets look at what Job said after all his troubles came upon him.
For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me. I was not in safety, neither had I rest, neither was I quiet; yet trouble came. Job 3:25,26
Instead of trusting God, which would not have given the devil access into his life, he did the exact opposite. He was living his life in great fear. He constantly worried that something like this would happen. He felt that he was never in safety and he had no rest. He expected trouble to come, and it did ! Job should have done exactly what God said to do when these thoughts of disaster and trouble come upon you. Satan will try to plant these imaginations in your mind. If you let them in, your in trouble. Someone once said, “ If you give the devil a ride, pretty soon he’ll want to drive”. Get rid of those thoughts that are against God’s word. If the devil comes (and he will) to tell you that you are not going to be healed then do this.
(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; 2 Corinthians 10:4,5
If you believe that God would ever give the devil access to your life to bring you harm, then why did God tell you to resist the devil? Why is God telling you to cast down all of the devil’s rotten imaginations? I’ll tell you why. Because God loves you and he wants you whole, spirit, soul and body!
As a child of God and a seed of Abraham, you have every right to have your sins, sickness and disease removed. Remember that in Heaven there is no sin, sickness or disease. God wants you delivered from this terrible curse now!
We are covenant children of God. God is our Father. Jesus Christ is our savior. We have the Holy Spirit in us. We have the faith of God in us. God’s angels have been sent to minister to us. It’s time we begin to act like who we really are. The children of the King. The great ‘I am’. Don’t let the devil put any of the curse on you. Resist him, and he will flee from you.
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. James 4:7
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 forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; Psalms 103:3
Heal me, O LORD, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved: for thou art my praise. Jeremiah 17:14
And the whole multitude sought to touch him: for there went virtue out of him, and healed them all. Luke 6:19
There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one. Acts 5:16
Now it is up to you and I to step out in the Faith that God has given us, and believe what he has said in his Word. When we believe, then anything, absolutely anything is possible, through the anointing of Jesus!
I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth
me. Philippians 4:13