Isaiah 53:4 mentions Christ taking up our pain and bearing our suffering ("He took up our infirmities and carried our diseases," according to another version). Does this mean we are exempt from suffering and illness? Are we to agree with the full-gospel-fellowship who believe healing is just as easy as claiming it and naming it in Christ and is part of our salvation? Christ was made to suffer in our stead to taste of our weaknesses in order to sympathize on our behalf and to be able to intercede for us at the right hand of the Most High.
Scripture surely verifies Jesus reaching out to people in need and it seems no trouble is too small for His love, nor too big for His power. Paul prayed 3 times that his infirmity or messenger from Satan would be removed, and God said "No." Someone was once asked why they don't have as many healers working in America as in Africa: "They don't have HMO's." God is so big that everything is small to Him, and loves so much, nothing is too small for Him.
Charlatan healers claim that the miracle is part of our redemption and if you don't get healed, your faith is suspect. It is true that Jesus said to the woman with the issue: "Your faith has healed you," but when the apostles healed they had the gift to heal and it was not dependent upon faith. It is deduced that it is a cooperative venture and it is done "unto you according to your faith" also.
If God doesn't immediately heal you by the anointing by the elders and prayers, for example, it has to be in God's timetable and He will work everything out according to His glory and plan. In fact, we may have to wait until glory to experience our complete healing. I know of examples where God has refused to heal and it has brought Him glory as to the building of a testimony. Joni Eareckson Tada is a famous one that comes to mind and, believe you me, she sought out the faith healers at first as much as the next guy.
Sometimes the sickness or illness is a wake-up call and the person serves as an example or warning to others: "Woe to me because of my injury! My wound is incurable! Yet I said to myself, 'This is my sickness, and I must endure it.'" (Jer. 10:19); "There is no healing for thy bruise; thy wound is grievous..." (Nah. 3:19). Hezekiah complained that God wouldn't heal him and that he was being taken in the prime of life! God granted him 15 more years.
The primary reason Jesus healed the sick was to be an example to us: How many hospitals have been founded by infidels? God always has some disaster happen in order to give the opportunity for His children to do good: Why does evil happen? To give the opportunity for good! There are certain things only God can do and what seemed impossible a generation ago is now within our grasp medically--who knows what man is capable of: I only hope we don't forget that this knowledge comes from God.
Philosophers have said, "All truth is God's truth." The church is the mother of science and science owes its very existence to it! Now they seem to be at war and there is no conflict between true science and the Bible. Let's hope God intervenes before man plays God and does immoral medicine just because he can. Soli Deo Gloria!
Scripture surely verifies Jesus reaching out to people in need and it seems no trouble is too small for His love, nor too big for His power. Paul prayed 3 times that his infirmity or messenger from Satan would be removed, and God said "No." Someone was once asked why they don't have as many healers working in America as in Africa: "They don't have HMO's." God is so big that everything is small to Him, and loves so much, nothing is too small for Him.
Charlatan healers claim that the miracle is part of our redemption and if you don't get healed, your faith is suspect. It is true that Jesus said to the woman with the issue: "Your faith has healed you," but when the apostles healed they had the gift to heal and it was not dependent upon faith. It is deduced that it is a cooperative venture and it is done "unto you according to your faith" also.
If God doesn't immediately heal you by the anointing by the elders and prayers, for example, it has to be in God's timetable and He will work everything out according to His glory and plan. In fact, we may have to wait until glory to experience our complete healing. I know of examples where God has refused to heal and it has brought Him glory as to the building of a testimony. Joni Eareckson Tada is a famous one that comes to mind and, believe you me, she sought out the faith healers at first as much as the next guy.
Sometimes the sickness or illness is a wake-up call and the person serves as an example or warning to others: "Woe to me because of my injury! My wound is incurable! Yet I said to myself, 'This is my sickness, and I must endure it.'" (Jer. 10:19); "There is no healing for thy bruise; thy wound is grievous..." (Nah. 3:19). Hezekiah complained that God wouldn't heal him and that he was being taken in the prime of life! God granted him 15 more years.
The primary reason Jesus healed the sick was to be an example to us: How many hospitals have been founded by infidels? God always has some disaster happen in order to give the opportunity for His children to do good: Why does evil happen? To give the opportunity for good! There are certain things only God can do and what seemed impossible a generation ago is now within our grasp medically--who knows what man is capable of: I only hope we don't forget that this knowledge comes from God.
Philosophers have said, "All truth is God's truth." The church is the mother of science and science owes its very existence to it! Now they seem to be at war and there is no conflict between true science and the Bible. Let's hope God intervenes before man plays God and does immoral medicine just because he can. Soli Deo Gloria!