INTROSPECTION

Those of you who know me are aware of my health problems which include diabetes, osteoporosis and lumbar stenosis (pinched nerve) plus minor ailments which make it difficult for me to get up and down, walk, or stand very long! And I'm writing these blogs on Spiritual Warfare not only to be a blessing to anyone who reads them but also to strengthen my own faith -- for I believe in Divine healing with all my heart! Not because of any church or denominational teaching, but because of what I read in the Word of God. In fact, as far as teaching goes, I was taught that Divine healing for all disappeared with the Apostles. But I would challenge anybody to show me where the Bible teaches that! Let me give you just a FEW reasons I feel so strongly about Divine healing being for all.

First of all I was surprised to learn that the two words in Isaiah 53:4 -- "griefs" and "sorrows" should have been translated "diseases" and "pain". Bible scholars and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance confirm this. Matthew 8:17, in quoting this passage, also applies it to physical disease. "That it might be fulfilled WHICH WAS SPOKEN BY ISAIAH, THE PROPHET, SAYING, He himself took our infirmities, and bore our sicknesses."

Don't get me wrong. Christ died for our sins, not our sicknesses. When on earth, He took away men's sicknesses by healing them! I Peter 2:24 points out this distinction: "Who his own self bore our sins in his own body on the tree" and "by whose stripes ye were healed."

Sickness is simply one of the results of sin, a part of the curse that came on the earth when Adam committed high treason. And Galatians 3:13 states very plainly that "Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us; for it is written, Cursed is everyone that hangeth on a tree." In other words, I'm redeemed from the curse of sickness.

We read over and over in the New Testament that during His earthly walk, Christ healed "ALL" who came to Him. And Hebrews 13:8 says, "Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, and today, and forever." Is He, or is He not the same? Can we believe the Word of God?

I could quote numerous Scriptures about healing, but the one that really opened my eyes to this marvelous provision for our healing is Psalm 103 which starts out by saying, "Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name." The second verse cautions us not to forget "ALL" his benefits then starts listing some of those benefits in verse 3: "Who forgiveth ALL thine iniquities, who healeth ALL thy diseases."

I wrestled with that Scripture for months. We know that Christ forgives ALL our sins -- not some of them, not most of them, not even 99% of them, but ALL of them. So why do we claim that part of the Scripture but sweep the last part of it under the rug? Pretend it's not there? Pretend it doesn't exist? Pretend it must mean something else? For me the issue became whether or not I believed ALL the Word of God. What right did I have to pick and choose which parts of the Bible I was going to believe? Which parts I was going to lay aside as not being true? It was all or nothing. And if I didn't believe God healed ALL diseases, how could I believe He forgave ALL my sins?

I hope this blog isn't too lengthy. But at least you know where I'm coming from and can understand better why I'm so "hep" on Spiritual Warfare; for I'm convinced it's only through Spiritual Warfare we can gain victory over sickness and disease. And that's my goal!

One other thing. Maybe you're wondering how one can die without being sick. Psalm 103:29b explains something the majority of people overlook: "thou taketh away their breath, they die, and return to their dust." We don't have to be sick in order to die!

I trust this blog has given you something to think about and will help you see that healing is for you, and for me. I've made my case in favor of Divine healing the best I could in the short space alotted.

Preacher's Kid