Suffering Ill Health

Suffering from bad health is one of the most difficult things we face in life. Both physical and mental suffering can overpower a person, and leave one feeling helpless and hopeless. The ultimate solution to such suffering is offered by the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The hope of believers that we will share His eternal nature after our own resurrection can give us encouragement in every circumstance. We have a future where there is no pain, sickness, or dying.

There is much confusion regarding suffering and sickness among Christians today. Some teach that if we live faithful and dedicated lives, we will be delivered from suffering. Our experience teaches us that good people of great faith suffer terrible sickness, and that the prayers of the saints do not always deliver from bad health those for whom we pray.

Jesus’ brother James wrote this, James 5:14-15 – “Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord.  And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up.”

Some teach today that if the leaders of the church will anoint the sick with oil, and pray for them, that they will definitely be healed. God does heal the sick, and Christians should pray for the sick, and we should expect God’s help. However, we must accept the evidence that God works differently today than He worked in the first century when healing was used as confirmation of the teaching of the Holy Spirit. Today that message has been written down and we can read it anytime we want. We do not need signs to confirm the word today, because it has already been confirmed in the time of the Apostles.

Apostle Paul said it this way: Gal 1:6-9 - I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel- which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned!

Modern day religious teachers who claim the power of the Holy Spirit for healing and who do not preach the same message taught by Paul and the Apostles should be avoided. Jesus said this about some who claimed to work miracles: Matt 7:15-24 - "Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. --------------Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.”

"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.  Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?'  Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'” NIV

Paul prayed for healing and Jesus answered Paul’s prayer: 2 Cor 12:7-10–To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.  NIV

Paul’s weakness was used to exalt Christ. Our own problems of ill health should be used as an opportunity to testify of our faith in Jesus Christ.    

By: Randolph Gonce