Over the years I’ve noticed people are particularly sensitive about some subjects. Healing, though not at the top, is one of those subjects. I’m not asking you to believe me. In fact, don’t. Study for yourself. We’re all going to give a personal account for our decisions on judgement day. I won’t anwer for your decisions. I just want to present to you what I see in the Word of God, and you can decide what you will.
Some people base their faith on what happened to so-and-so. Keep this in mind: we never have all the facts when it comes to others. There are things in everyone’s lives that are between the individual and God: “The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law” (Deuteronomy 29:29). There are some things that God reveals, but what is between Him and one of His children is His Business. There are personal things between God and each of us. My attitude is: It’s my duty to believe what God says and learn to walk with Him. I’m not God’s little policeman commissioned to enforce God’s law in someone else’s life. Nor am I God’s judge deciding what God should do or not do. Things happen in this life I have no control over and don’t understand. But I do know that God loves me, and is for me, and what He says I can rely on.
I know those who have lost young children and other loved ones. That’s alway hard to accept and very sorrowful. I can understand someone feeling pain, loss, and confusion. Yet, I don’t blame God. God sent Jesus so that we may have a meaningful and abundant life: “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly” (John 10:10). The thief and destroyer is Satan. We may not understand the “why’s” of everything, but it will become clear in time. But it is for certain, if we refuse to believe what we do know God says, God can’t take us any further. Learning God’s word is like learning math. If you get lost in adding and subtracting, forget algebra. Always stay on God’s side. He’s for us not against us.
I know a woman who lost her father when she was thirteen years old. The father was crushed from the waist down. His death, and the the gruesome way he died, had a devastating effect on the whole family. The pastor made it all the worse when he blamed God for the death. The woman had to deal with bitterness toward God for taking her father. But she found John 10:10 and things became clear for her: this tragedy wasn’t from God, but somehow Satan got in and killed her father. Though she’s always felt the loss, the bitterness toward God is gone. The reality that her father is in heaven, and it wasn’t God murdering him, has given her a wonderful fellowship with the Lord. She has had a marvelous walk with the Lord since then.
We’re in a battle. This earth is at constant war: spiritually and naturally. It’s because of the spiritual war that we’re always at war in the natural. Hence, the natural is a dangerous place. Sickness, strive, and death are the norm. We are to fight “the good fight of faith and lay hold on eternal life” (1 Timothy 6:12). In war and harsh conditions, people are injured and some die. Do we criticize soldiers who are wounded or killed in the line of duty? No. Why? Because we know that even the best trained can fall victim to things beyond their control or knowledge. In this world where death reigns, no matter how spiritual we may be we don’t know everything. Sometimes we miss the mark. None-the-less, the better trained and knowledgeable we are, the more experience in the battle we become and the less chance of falling victim to an ambush.
“As newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby” (1 Peter 2:2). If we’re getting fed the pure word of God, if it’s the real deal, then we will see growth in our lives. If we’re just getting watered down religion, then we won’t see growth in our lives. We know we’ve grown when under pressure we can use the “weapons of our warfare” and overcome. This holds true in every area of spiritual growth, including healing. If we don’t know how to defend ourselves when attacked spiritually, if we don’t understand how to go to the word of God and find answers, and if we can’t open our Bibles with other believers and enjoy the sweet fellowship of the Spirit, then we probably aren’t being fed the “pure milk of the word” of God.
Perhaps the most important thing to get out of this lesson is we’re responsible for our life. In the end, what we do, the attitude we have, and the decisions we make will have the greatest effect on us.
If these lessons are of benefit to you, then I’m happy to be of help. Please keep in mind I’m just sharing. Jesus is the great teacher, and only he really knows what you need to have a fulfilled life.
I’m not a pastor. I don’t know you, your family, or your problems. I don’t counsel. If you don’t belong to a local Bible believing church with a good pastor, get in one. There you will learn what it’s like in the real family of God, what our Savior deals with on a constant basis, and you’ll certainly have opportunity to learn to walk in the love of God. There you can also find fellowship with like minded folks, and a place where God can reach you outside of your own bubble.
I’m not your mama. If you have spiritual bruises and hurts, well, we all do. I’m not good at making people feel good when they’re unwilling to grow up. If you’ve been a believer for awhile, or just an adult, I may say something to offend you. I’m not trying to but grow up.
Anyone who’s been in the military knows that real teamwork is when everyone assumes their responsibility. We all have our place in the body of Christ, and we all have our responsibilities. Somewhere we got the idea that the minister is responsible for our healing. If he prays, then we should get it. If we don’t get healed, then it didn’t work, and it couldn’t be our fault. But each member of a body has to do it’s part for the body to function properly. My hope is that these lessons may help you find your place and responsibilities. From there, when the rest of the team comes together for support, we all may find victory in life and healing for our bodies.
A Journal of Edification and Exhortation 