Speaking Of Healing And Health
Prosperity teaching isn’t only about materialism but also about
health and healing. Many prosperity people expect Jesus to heal us of
every illness, and keep us always healthy. It’s only our lack of faith
that prevents Him from doing this. But is this New Testament thinking?
Concerning good health there is a little verse tucked away in 3 John 2
that prosperity people use to defend their position. It says, "I pray
that you may enjoy good health, and that all may go well with you, even as
your soul is getting along well". There are three parts to this
verse, two parts prayer and one part fact. The fact is that John’s
friend Gaius is doing well in his soul, meaning, spiritually he’s doing
good. The two other parts are prayers for good health and a good life.
What we learn from these two prayer phrases is that John wants to see
Gaius healthy and so he prays to that end. Once John prays, the answer to
his prayer is in the hands of Jesus to do as He pleases. Just because John
prays for good health for Gaius doesn’t mean the Scripture teaches that
we are to expect good health. These two phrases are a prayer, John’s
wishes, not a declaration of truth. Thus we can’t use this verse to
name, claim, demand, or expect prosperous health all of the time.
Was Paul Ever Sick?
Galatians 4:13 and 14 says, "… it was because of an illness that
I first preached the gospel to you. Even though my illness was a trial to
you, you did not treat me with contempt or scorn. Instead, you welcomed me
as if I were an angel from God, as if I were Christ Jesus Himself."
Paul was clearly sick at least once in his post conversion life. Some
say this illness had something to do with his eye sight due to the
reference to eyes in the next verse. We know that his illness was severe
enough that the Galatians could have scorned him and been embarrassed
because of his illness.
So we do know that at least once Jesus allowed a Christian to be sick.
But is this the only incident of illness In the New Testament?
Timothy Had Stomach Problems
Timothy’s persistent poor digestive system always comes to mind when
thinking about this subject. (1 Tim. 5:23) The question begs to be asked.
Why did Paul suggest wine as a remedy for Timothy instead of more prayer
and more faith? Obviously Paul thought wine would help. Sorry to some of
my friends, but Paul is speaking of real wine, not grape juice. (you can
read my thoughts on wine by clicking this link. (
http://www.stevesweetman.com/articles/wine.htm
)
I know Paul was only speaking to Timothy, but I’ve taken Paul’s
advise as well.
So here’s another case of a Christian being ill in the Bible. It
appears that Jesus does allow Christians to get sick.
Our Bodies Are In The Process Of Decay
2 Corinthians 4:16 says, "… we do not loose heart. Though
outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by
day". So here we go. Here’s another bad confession of faith. Paul
confesses that his body is "wasting away". We’ve now got Peter
and Paul both making a bad confession.
The Greek word "diaphtheiro" which is translated as
"wasting away" means "to utterly destroy, ending in
death". Paul in his negative confession is saying that his body is in
the process of decaying. That doesn’t sound like the picture of health.
The older I get, the more I agree with Paul.
Paul knew his body was starting to fall apart, but that didn’t bother
him because inwardly he was flying high in the Spirit with Jesus.
Prosperity in terms of health and healing is first inward. This doesn’t
mean that Jesus can’t or won’t heal us, because He does and will. It
means that in this life, it is Jesus’ choice to do as He wishes with us.
We can’t name, claim or demand prosperity in health and healing, like we
can’t name, claim and demand prosperity in material things. Earthly
struggles and trials resulting from the Fall remain with us until Jesus
returns and puts all things under His feet. (1 Cor. 15)
My Own Experience
At the age of five I was diagnosed with Juvenile Diabetes. One Sunday
morning I found myself kneeling at a little altar in the basement of a
house where a local Free Methodist church group met. They had no building
at the time. I remember at this early age people laying hands on me and
praying for my healing. To make a long story short, Jesus miraculously
healed me and the doctors at Sick Children Hospital in Toronto concurred
that a miracle had taken place. Suddenly all my sugar levels were good. I
stopped taking loads of cookies to bed with me. Being in and out of a coma-like conditions was history. And best of all, my dad gave his life to
Jesus as a result. How can you not be eternally grateful to Jesus.
Jesus made me better or else I’d be dead long before my life got
under way. So why didn’t He heal my eyes at the same time? I’m sure He
could have. Why He didn’t heal my eyes has always been a mystery to me.
I’ve tried every so-called Scriptural technique to find healing, but
healing never came. So like the three Hebrew men, I trust Jesus anyway.
Besides, I now don’t believe there is one particular technique for
healing.
My poor vision has hindered me in many aspects over the years. I’ve
often thought that in many ways my life has been a waste because of this
affliction, but what can you say. You can’t argue with Jesus. Maybe I’ve
missed something along the way that has prevented me from being healed as
some prosperity people suggest. I don’t think I’ve missed anything,
but I guess it’s possible. But really, I think Jesus hasn't healed me
for His own reasons, and for some reason He hasn’t clued me in – and
He doesn’t have to. He’s Jesus. I’m only me. Someday I’ll see,
even if I’ve got to wait until Heaven. And if there are cars in Heaven,
don’t worry I’ll be driving on the road, not the sidewalk. Everything
in this life is partial, including healing. (1 Cor. 13:9) The totality of
the cross will be realized in the next life.
Is this pessimistic? Have I just spoken a bad confession? I don’t
think so. No matter what happens to me, I always want to trust Jesus. I
don’t trust Him just for my salvation. I trust Him with my whole life
which includes my salvation, as hard as that may be at times. That’s
what the Christian life is all about. God forbid we simply proclaim a
selfish gospel of believing in order to get - get Heaven, get forgiven,
get healed, get prosperous... Salvation is far more than getting from
Jesus. It’s giving to Jesus.
I do believe in a good positive attitude. But let’s be real about our
attitude and call things for what they are, not what they aren’t. And
there’s nothing wrong with asking Jesus to be healed. Just keep in mind,
we are His servants. He is our Lord. We don’t name, claim, and demand.
Part 7
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