Month: September 2021

I believe that too often we allow our upbringing, society in general, or education to determine what we believe about things that only God, in His Word, can reveal. If we were raised in a home that believed the Bible is the inspired word of God and its’ promises can be taken literally, then we are more likely to trust God for healing as we did for the forgiveness of our sins (Psalm 103:1-5).

Before the Fall, Adam & Eve were perfect in every way, in relationship with God, body, mind, emotions, and environment were all perfect. But when they disobeyed God, they lost their relationship with God, sickness became a possibility, they were removed from the Garden of Eden and plunged the whole creation into sin.

But God was not caught off guard, He had a plan of redemption already set in motion (John 17:24, Ephesians 1:4, 1 Peter 1:20). The prophet Isaiah, some 700 years before Messiah came, prophesied that He would “…bear our griefs, carry our sorrows…be wounded for our transgressions, bruised for our iniquities…and by His stripes, we were healed” Isaiah 53:4-6. At the same place, time, and moment that He provided a sacrifice for our sins, He also took stripes for our physical healing!

This is illustrated for us in Jesus’ earthly ministry as mentioned by Matthew in chapter 8:16-17, “When evening had come, they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed. And He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying: ‘He himself took our infirmities and bore our sicknesses.'” (See also 1 Peter 2:24)

We have examples where Jesus healed everyone present at the time who was in need of healing (Matthew 4:24, Matthew 12:15). We also have an example where He only healed one person (John 5:8-9), even though there were others present who needed healing.

I would suggest that we each do an intensive study of the four Gospels to get a clear picture of how Jesus ministered healing to the sick. We will discover He always knew the mind of the Father and followed His directives when and how He ministered to those in need (John 5:19-23). This is illustrated also in the early church by the Apostle Peter when he encountered a believer, Dorcas, who had recently died (Acts 9:36-43). He prayed, discovered the will of God about it, ministered to her and she was restored to life.

I suggest that healing is a part of the atonement and is available to all who will make Jesus their personal Lord & Savior. Other Scriptures that solidifies this to me are:

The ministry of the early church in the book of Acts. (Acts 2:43, Acts 3:1-10, Acts 4:30, Acts 8:4-8,Acts 9:32-35, Acts 9:36-43, Acts 10:38).

Anointing with oil by the elders. James 5:13-15

The gifts of healings that have been placed in the church. 1 Corinthians 12:9.

Statements like: John 9:23 “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.”

I suggest that we can serve God better with a healthy body than a sick one. While it is possible to be joyful, happy, peaceful, and content in any circumstance, I believe it is best to be all these things with a right relationship with the Lord AND with a healthy body to serve Him and live out all our days until we have finished the course given to us by God! 2 Timothy 4:7-8

During 2020 in Louisville, Ky. we experienced several weeks of rioting throughout the city because of generations of unjust treatment of minorities. Many of the downtown stores were boarded up and closed for weeks. Untold thousands of dollars of property were destroyed. Some of the businesses have not yet reopened.

We are a country that was founded on Judeo-Christian principles to a large degree. However, through the years some of the laws have been changed or ignored and applied differently based on race, social status, or financial advantages. And as a result, frustration, anger, and resentment have reached the point of boiling over. But is that a good reason to invade another’s personal property and destroy it?

Let’s look at two scenarios.

Suppose you come from a background of moderate-income, neither wealthy nor poor, worked hard, saved your money, and were able to purchase a home or business. But someone comes to destroy it, do you have a legal right to defend it and yourself?

Or, you are a minority that has also done the best you could possibly do in your situation. But seemingly things always seem to work against you regardless of what you do. The frustration builds over decades and finally, something happens that is the ‘straw that broke the camel’s back.’ Is it right for you to respond against someone and/or their property?

I see these scenarios as being about more than property and perhaps even more than whether injustices have been done. Perhaps, the discussion should also include not just what is right or wrong by the laws of a country but what does the Bible say about these type of things.

Micah 6:8 says, “He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.”

What is the standard to determine what is good or justice? Or what is merciful? What is humility? I suggest that defining these by human ideas alone is insufficient. We need a higher source of insight and truth. Only the Scriptures – the Bible – are able to give us the best insight.

It appears to me that financial inequity will always exist on this side of eternity! Then what can we do?

Let’s look at some Scripture absolutes.

Gender – when God created Adam & Eve, He determined their gender, and there are only two of them. Genesis 1:27

Race or Nationality – God placed them in the Garden of Eden. Genesis 2:8 After the fall, He scattered them across the earth. Genesis 11:1-9 Yet, the Cross and Pentecost solve that problem as any person can now hear the Gospel and make Jesus their personal Lord and Savior! Acts 2:1-4, Galatians 3:28-29, Revelation 22:17

I suggest the place to start overcoming the problems alluded to in this short article is to NOT discriminate based on Gender, Race, Nationality, or Economic place in life! I suggest that we become so Word oriented, and in love with Jesus we love who and what He loves more than anything else in the world. If we can do that, these types of problems may still exist but they will not control our life nor the way we see other people or situations!