10th Meeting:
"WHY DOES SICKNESS DEPART WHEN YOU PRAY?"
"When Jesus came into Peter's house, he saw Peter's mother-in-law lying in bed with a fever. He touched her hand and the fever left her, and she got up and began to wait on him. When evening came, many who sere demon possessed were brought to him, and he drove out the spirits with a word and healed all the sick. This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah: 'He took up our infirmities and carried our diseases'" (Matt. 8:14-17)
Jesus preached the gospel as He healed the sick. The apostles and the saints of the first century church put healing and proclaiming the gospel side by side. Jesus give us a sure promise in Mark 16:15-20.
1. IN THE BIBLE, THERE ARE PROMISES OF HEALING.
(1) “All who touched him were healed” (Mk 6:56).
Mark 6:56 Wherever He entered into villages, cities, or in the country, they laid the sick in the marketplaces, and begged Him that they might just touch the hem of His garment. And as many as touched Him were made well.
(2) “He took up our infirmities and carried our diseases” (Matt 8:17).
Matthew 8:17 that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying: "He Himself took our infirmities And bore our sicknesses."
(3) “By his wounds we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5).
Isaiah 53:5 But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peacewas upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.
2. FIRST DIAGNOSE THE ROOT CAUSE OF THE DISEASE.
(1) There are diseases caused by fatigue (overwork), carelessness, infections of aging.
(2) But the Bible reveals three important causes of disease that cannot be healed by human means. They need spiritual treatment.
① Diseases caused by sin
(i) Sins of ancestors: Idol worship is the disease that goes down to the third and fourth generation (Ex 20:4-5)
The names and reason for these illnesses are unknown and can not be treated.
Exodus 20:4-5 You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that isin the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; 5 you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me,
(ii) Original sin: Because the spirit is in a state of death, treatment is impossible (Gen. 3:16-19).
Genesis 3:16-19 To the woman He said: "I will greatly multiply your sorrow and your conception; In pain you shall bring forth children; Your desire shall be for your husband, And he shall rule over you." 17 Then to Adam He said, "Because you have heeded the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree of which I commanded you, saying, 'You shall not eat of it': "Cursed is the ground for your sake; In toil you shall eat of it All the days of your life. 18 Both thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you, And you shall eat the herb of the field. 19 In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread Till you return to the ground, For out of it you were taken; For dust you are, And to dust you shall return."
(iii) Consequential sins: (2 Kings 5:27; 2 Chron 21:12-19;1 Cor 5:5)
2 Kings 5:27 Therefore the leprosy of Naaman shall cling to you and your descendants forever." And he went out from his presence leprous, as white as snow.
2 Chronicles 21:12-15 And a letter came to him from Elijah the prophet, saying, Thus says the LORD God of your father David: Because you have not walked in the ways of Jehoshaphat your father, or in the ways of Asa king of Judah, 13 but have walked in the way of the kings of Israel, and have made Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to play the harlot like the harlotry of the house of Ahab, and also have killed your brothers, those of your father's household, who were better than yourself, 14 behold, the LORD will strike your people with a serious affliction -- your children, your wives, and all your possessions; 15 and you will become very sick with a disease of your intestines, until your intestines come out by reason of the sickness, day by day.
② Disease which are brought by Satan (evil spirits)
(i) Mental (Mark 5:3-15)
Mark 5:3-5 who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no one could bind him, not even with chains, 4 because he had often been bound with shackles and chains. And the chains had been pulled apart by him, and the shackles broken in pieces; neither could anyone tame him. 5 And always, night and day, he was in the mountains and in the tombs, crying out and cutting himself with stones.
(ii) Emotional (Eph 4:23-27)
Ephesians 4:23-27 and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness. 25 ¶ Therefore, putting away lying, "Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor," for we are members of one another. 26 "Be angry, and do not sin": do not let the sun go down on your wrath, 27 nor give place to the devil.
(iii) Environmental (Matt 12:25-28)
Matthew 12:25-28 But Jesus knew their thoughts, and said to them: "Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand. 26 "If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand? 27 "And if I cast out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they shall be your judges. 28 "But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you.
(iv) Neural (Mark 9:17, Luke 13;16)
Mark 9:17 Then one of the crowd answered and said, "Teacher, I brought You my son, who has a mute spirit.
Luke 13;16 So ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound -- think of it -- for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath?"
③ Diseases which serve God’s will (2 Cor 12:7, Dan 8:27).
2 Corinthians 12:7 And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure.
Daniel 8:27 And I, Daniel, fainted and was sick for days; afterward I arose and went about the king's business. I was astonished by the vision, but no one understood it.
3. INCORRECT TREATMENT LEADS TO A WORSE CONDITION.
(1) Treatment relying only on medical technology and medicine.
(2) Only looking for physical results.
(3) Treatment relying on religious methods, superstitions, and evil spirits.
4. KNOW THE CORRECT ORDER OF HEALING
(1) There must be spiritual healing first (3John 1:2).
3John 1:2 Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.
① Receive Jesus Christ into your heart (John 1:12).
John 1:12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:
② Be filled with the Holy Spirit (Eph 5:18)
Ephesians 5; 18 And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit,
(2) Stop sinning (James 5:13-16)
James 5:13-16 Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms. 14 Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. 16 Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.
(3) Correct your environment/situation (Matt 12:25-29).
(4) Now you can administer medical treatment (James 5:13-14).
5. WHAT YOU DO AFTER THE HEALING IS ALSO IMPORTANT.
(1) Keep up your works of faith.
(2) Restore a heart and life of thanksgiving.
(3) A life of witnessing is needed.
6. Healing-AIDS
(1) Arrival of the age of AIDS (2) Sexual confusion, age of apathy
(3) How do we treat this?
① Is this really an incurable disease? ② Resolve it by the power of prayer
③ God has prepared foods that will heal on this earth.
(4) Resolve it by the power of the Holy Spirit.