Is Health and Prosperity in the Gospel?
Recently I've had a number of people tell me that the gospel of Jesus
Christ is not a "Health and Wealth" gospel. Indeed to them the very idea
of associating "Health and Wealth" with Jesus was abhorent!
Now it would make sense if the claim had been made that the gospel was
"only" about "Health and Wealth", but many believe that the gospel does
include these things for believers whose priority is the kingdom of God!
As Jesus said in Matthew 6:33.
Mat 6:33 But seek first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness;
and all these things shall be added unto you.
These things being food, shelter, money, clothing, etc. As someone also
has said, "If Jesus was rich, why do I have to be poor?"
Now that counter statement made me think, Is "Health and Wealth" included
in the gospel? For instance, what was the overall status of Jesus and
the disciples? Wouldn't this be a good guide?
Let's look first at the group dynamic. What financial offices did they
have?
Well, the first thing that we notice is that the group had a full-time
treasurer!
John 13:29 Since Judas was their treasurer, some thought Jesus was
telling him to go and pay for the food or to give some money to the poor.
(NLT)
This passage tells us that the group had sufficient funds that they had
appointed someone (Judas) to be their treasurer! These could not be
poor people!
Another thing to note is that on this occasion the group had the
thought, when Judas went out, that he was going to give some money
to the poor. Now for this to spring to mind as a top option it must
have been something done on a regular basis!
Are the poor regularly sending their treasurers out to give money to
other poor people? This is not something that I have noticed!
Judas seems not to personally have been rich because he stole and was
prepared to betray Jesus for 30 pieces of silver, but this is hardly
a great recommendation for being a poor follower of Jesus!
Now, let's take a look at some of the other people that Jesus brought
in as His disciples.
Mar 1:16-20 Passing alongside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and
Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net into the sea, for they were
fishermen. And Jesus said to them, "Follow me, and I will make you
become fishers of men". And immediately they left their nets and
followed him. And going on a little farther, he saw James the son of
Zebedee and John his brother, who were in their boat mending the nets.
And immediately he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in
the boat with the hired servants and followed him.
These four disciples were all fishermen but, they were not just hired
hands. These four owned fishing busineses. They owned their own fishing
boats (plural!). James and John were in a big enough business that
they had hired hands working for them! They were not poor by
any means. They had money from their ongoing businesses and could go
back to them at any time. In fact they did when Jesus was killed!
So we see from this first look at Jesus and the disciples that they
were not generally poor and sick but quite the opposite! This being
the case perhaps we should look at what one disciple, John, said about
this subject...
3 John 1:2 "Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and
be in good health, just as your soul prospers."
I want you to notice that John, under inspiration of the Holy Spirit,
tells believers that he prays that all manner of prosperity and health
should be theirs in the same way that their soul is prospering. Is that
not "Health and Wealth"?
One therefore, wonders why anyone would think that Jesus would live
one life with His disciples and then expect us to live the opposite
today!
He doesn't! God wants to bring wealth to His people so that they can
be a blessing to others. He says so all through our manual (the bible).
As another scripture tells us in Proverbs 10:22...
Prov 10:22 The blessing of the LORD makes a person rich, and he adds no sorrow with it.
The blessing is not money. The blessing is the favour of God. We are not to love money
but realize that money is useful to serve God and further the kingdom. The gospel is
preached in the world through the use of money. Money/wealth is neither good nor bad of
itself - it's neutral. If you only want enough so that you are comfortable though, then
perhaps you see less far than God does; God sees further than Himself and wants us to
do so as well!
Luke 4:18-19 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because of which He has anointed Me
to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim deliverance to the captives,
and recovery of sight to the blind, to bring deliverance to the oppressed, to proclaim
the year of the Lord’s favor.”
Jesus came to bring good news to the poor and to deliver them from oppression. Staying
poor is not good news! Staying sick is not good news! Poverty is not a
blessing, it's a curse (Deu 28:15-68); and sickness is oppression by the devil
(Act 10:38).
So we find Jesus saying this...
Mark 10:29-30 Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left
house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my
sake and for the gospel, who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time,
houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with
persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life.
Notice that the good news is not only about what you will receive in the age
to come. It applies to this age also.
And, God blesses His people so that they can be a blessing to others,
I believe, just as He did Abraham, whose covenant we share.
Perhaps we can take another look now at the group dynamic. Did any of them have a
financial background?
Well, one thing that we notice is that one of the group had previously
been a tax collector!
Mat 9:9 As Jesus passed on from there, He saw a man named Matthew
sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, “Follow Me.” So he
arose and followed Him.
This passage tells us that Matthew, one of Jesus' disciples had been
a tax collector!
These people grew rich from the money they extracted from the people
to pay taxes to Rome while including a healthy cut for themselves!
So like Zacchaeus another tax collector Jesus 'discipled', Matthew
would likely have been very rich indeed. And there's no mention of
him giving it all to the poor!
Of course we don't know all the disciple's occupations so we don't know
how rich they all were but another incident in their lives shows us
what they thought of themselves.
Mat 19:23-25 And Jesus said to His disciples, “Truly I say to you,
it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. “Again
I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a
needle, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” When the
disciples heard this, they were very astonished and said,
“Then who can be saved?”
Did you notice the disciple's reaction? They said, "Who then can be saved?"
They were astonished! If they had considered themselves amongst the poor
Jesus' statement would not have been a problem to them! It might be tough
on the rich but they would be OK! But, since they exclaimed, "Then who can
be saved?", it shows that they placed themselves in the camp of the rich!
With that in mind, let's consider what God says about His attitude towards His people
being wealthy. God is the same always, so Old Testament scriptures should
be a good place to start.
Psa 35:27 Let them shout for joy and rejoice, who favor my
vindication; And let them say continually, "The LORD be magnified,
Who delights in the prosperity of His servant(s)."
So God delights in the prosperity of His people! From what some people
say one would not get that impression! But it's always a good idea to
believe what God says about Himself in His word, rather that what others
say about Him!
So we see from this second look at Jesus and the disciples and also at
God's attitude, that they were not poor and
that God loves it when His people have excess money to help the poor!
Pro 19:17 Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the LORD, and He will
repay him for his deed.
God wants us to use money wisely as He would guide, but money is neutral
and greedy, money-grabbing people can be poor as well as rich!
One therefore, at second glance, wonders why anyone would think that Jesus
with His disciples and God's people under the Old Covenant like Abraham,
Isaac, Jacob, David and Solomon can be rich to be a blessing to others,
and then expect Jesus' disciples today to live poor thinking only of themselves!
The secular world has been given the idea that poverty is piety and this idea
has entered the church also. As a result Christians themselves limit what God
would like to do through them! This is not new though. Have a look at Psalm 78,
verse 41 regarding the children of Israel in the wilderness.
Psa 78:41 Yes, they turned back and tempted God, and limited the Holy One of Israel.
So we can limit God by turning back from receiving His blessing through believing
criticism and evil reports, or by accepting the world's mindset that physical
blessing are for those in Satan's world and God's people are supposed to be poor!
That's not how God thinks though! He wishes that His people prosper in all areas
of life and be in health - just as our souls are prospering. We should remember
that "sozo" the greek word translated as 'save' in the new testament has the full
meaning of - "save, heal, deliver, make whole, rescue, and prosper".
I can imagine that some would think that not all the meanings may apply! Well, God
could have used a word which limited the meaning to one facet only but He didn't.
But it may be more interesting to see biblical info on how money was used and
whether God's people were given riches by God.
Let's look next on what things Jesus and the disciples
spent their money. What about clothing?
Mat 27:35 After they had nailed him to the cross, the soldiers
gambled for His (Jesus') clothes by throwing dice.
Joh 19:23-24 When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they divided his
clothes among the four of them. They also took his robe, but it
was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom.
So they said, "Rather than tearing it apart, let’s throw dice for it".
Jesus' cothes were of such quality that the Roman Soldiers did not give
them away, or cut them up, or throw them away, but rather they gambled to
see who would get what, especially His robe which was woven without a seam!
We are not talking about cut price, low budget clothing here!
Now how did Jesus and the disciples become rich? We know that Jesus
said that He only did what He saw the Father doing. So what does
the Father do regarding finances?
Deu 8:18 Always remember that it is the LORD your God who gives YOU
power to become rich, and He does it to fulfill the covenant He made
with your ancestors
So did you notice that God says HE gives YOU the POWER to become
rich! And, this is in fulfillment of His promises! This is under the
old covenant and we are under a better covenant! So should we believe
what God says or what men say? I pick God!
Now what does God mean by the "power" that He gives us?
One acronym that is used to describe this power is :-
P: Plans & Ideas.
O: Organisation & Opportunity.
W: Work Ethic.
E: Enthusiasm.
R: Rewards.
And, the scriptures tell us that God delights when we use the power
He gives us to gain wealth and use it to bless others. Just as
Abraham before us who was blessed to be a blessing to others so God
blesses us with the power to become rich so that we can be a blessing
to others.
Psa 35:27 Let them shout for joy and rejoice, who favor My
vindication; And let them say continually, "The LORD be magnified,
Who delights in the prosperity of His servant(s)."
Does God really delight in the prosperity of His servants? Well what
was Abraham's situation for instance regarding prosperity/wealth?
Gen 13:2 And Abram (Abraham) was very rich; in cattle, in silver, and in gold.
Abraham wasn't just rich, he was VERY rich! And this is not talking about
spiritual wealth; it's talking about cattle, silver and gold. So God does
delight in the prosperity of His people! From what some people say one would
not get that impression! But it's always a good idea to believe what God says
about Himself in His word, rather that what others say about Him!
Seeing all this, one wonders why anyone would think that Jesus would live one
kind of life with His disciples and treat 'bible time' believers one way and
then expect us to live the opposite today? He doesn't!
Now if someone's character is such that the only way they feel that they
can follow God is if they are poor then they have to live with that
mindset but that does not mean that 'God' wants all people to live that
way!
God wants His peopple to be blessed like He blessed Abraham.
Galatians 3:9 So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful
Abraham.
We have the choice of using the power God gives, to the extent our
faith allows. It's up to us. God is not a respecter of persons.
So, are you beginning to think that "Health and Wealth" could be included
in the gospel, or not? Which is true and what did Jesus tell us about
using money?
Let's look at a parable of Jesus in the book of Luke.
Luk 16:1-9 He also said to the disciples, “There was a rich man who
had a manager, and charges were brought to him that this man was
wasting his possessions. And he called him and said to him,
‘What is this that I hear about you? Turn in the account of your
management, for you can no longer be manager.’
And the manager said to himself, ‘What shall I do, since my master
is taking the management away from me? I am not strong enough to
dig, and I am ashamed to beg. I have decided what to do, so that
when I am removed from management, people may receive me into
their houses.’
So, summoning his master's debtors one by one, he said to the first,
‘How much do you owe my master?’ He said, ‘A hundred measures
of oil.’ He said to him, ‘Take your bill, and sit down quickly and
write fifty.’ Then he said to another, ‘And how much do you owe?’
He said, ‘A hundred measures of wheat.’ He said to him,
‘Take your bill, and write eighty.’
The master commended the dishonest manager for his shrewdness. For
the sons of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own
generation than the sons of light. And I tell you, make friends for
yourselves by means of unrighteous wealth, so that when it fails
they may receive you into the eternal dwellings.
We see first of all that this servant although he had stolen a lot
of money had not used any of it to support his future. It was all blown
on fast living and expensive toys! He had nothing to fall back on when
things turned against him. He was not wise!
Then he set up provision for his future by giving his master's creditors
smaller bills that they should have! He was now using his head to secure
his future!
Jesus tells us that the master commended him for doing this. Not for
stealing of course! He commended him for being wise/shrewd enough now to
use money to build a future. This is the wisest use to which we can put
money.
And Jesus' own comment on the parable is this, "Use your own wealth to
make friends so that when it fails they will receive you into eternal
dwellings.
This suggests, to me at least, that it would be good to have some
'unrighteous wealth' to use in this way!
So (my interpretation) we should use our wealth to help those coming
into the kingdom so that when we die (money fails to be of use) we will
be welcomed (given a guard of honour or be met by those we helped) as
we rise into the kingdom of God.
Either way, that is Jesus' comment or my interpretation, it's good to
have wealth and be wise enough to use it in this life to build a future
in the age to come!
But some might say, "Didn't Jesus tell the rich young man to sell
all that he had and give to the poor"? This is in Matthew 19:21.
Mat 19:21 Jesus said to him, “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you
possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven;
and come, follow me.”
Now we should notice that Jesus did not say 'give it ALL to the poor'!
He said 'give to the poor'!
Under the law one had to give a proportion of what one had to help
the poor and including tithing this was a max of 30%. So Jesus'
request was for the young man to give up 30% of his holdings and he
couldn't do it! But what God wants is people who will help others
out of the wealth that He gives them power to obtain. And note that
this is another occasion when Jesus tells us using our wealth in this
way will build up our treasures in heaven!
This would be why God delights in the prosperity of His servants.
He knows how we can use that wealth wisely! Though we have to see
things from God's point of view not through the eyes of men who
impute a false piety on being poor. Poverty does not bring piety!
In fact the 'poor' can be just as money-grabbing and greedy as
the rich!
Psa 35:27 Let them shout for joy and rejoice, who favor my
vindication; And let them say continually, "The LORD be magnified,
Who delights in the prosperity of His servant(s)."
So if Jesus and God the Father see good uses for wealth in this life
and delighted in His people of old having it, one wonders why some
would think that Jesus would want us to live in poverty under the
new covenant?
As you can see from Jesus' parables and words, He doesn't! God is not
a respecter of persons.
So maybe that's OK for ordinary individuals but you may be thinking
what about people who have ministries, or tele-evangelists, or
missionarys and others who are "preaching the gospel"? Should "ministers"
such as these be making requests for rich people to contribute to the
proclaiming of the gospel of Jesus?
Let's look at some of the people who supported Jesus as He proclaimed the
gospel.
Luk 8:2-3 And the twelve were with him, and also some women who had
been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from
whom seven demons had gone out, and Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod’s
household manager, and Susanna, and many others, who provided for them out
of their means.’
I want you to notice, "Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod's housold manager",
was only one of the women, and presumably men also, who supported Jesus'
ministry out of their means!
The life and times of Jesus' day being what they were, it is very unlikely
that Joanna had a huge income independent of her husband from which she
could suport Jesus without her husband's knowledge.
The passage also tells us that she was one for whom Jesus had performed a
great health miracle. This would not have gone un-noticed by her husband
who must therefore have acquiesed to her support of Jesus even though he
was high up in Herod's court.
So we see that rich people were financially supporting Jesus in His earthly
ministry from their means. It's not unreasonable then that His ministry
would need a full time treasurer and that would explain why Judas was appointed.
So if Jesus and God the Father can use the support of wealthy people
to advance the preaching of the Gospel in Jesus' day, then surely there
is nothing wrong with His ministers today getting similar support for
preaching the good news and doing the ministry to which they have been
called.
As an example, have you ever heard one of those stories where a man of God
is doing vital work like running an orphanage, but cannot provide the food
and clothing from regular income? You know the one, where the man of God gets
everyone around the table and gives God thanks for the meal even though there
is nothing to put out in the plates? Then, just as he finishes praying there
is a knock on the door and a stranger brings them food because he had a word
from God that it was needed?
Now when you have been told one of those true stories of God's provision,
which man of God would you have preferred to be? The one needing the food, or
the one who had taken advantage of God's blessing and so God could use him
to help his needy brother by providing the food?
Both godly men are required to keep the orphanage running until the man
running the orphanage learns to walk in the blessing of God, or the orphanage
is no longer required! Then God can use the rich man to help someone else!
Jesus needed similar provision for a section of His ministry and then the job
was completed. The principles God uses have not changed!
Now, just because some people misuse or abuse the principles God gives to us,
does not mean that the principles are wrong! You should still do the things
that God says brings His blessing, and expect the results God says we should
get.
Mark 10:29-30 Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left
house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my
sake and for the gospel, who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time,
houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with
persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life.
If you're going to believe the things God says in His word, why only believe
the 'judgements against sin', the 'persecutions', and other such stuff? Why not
believe the good stuff, like in Mark 10:29-30, also? Shouldn't we have faith
in God in all things? Shouldn't we be believers who fully believe? That would
surely please our good God; if we actually believe He's as good as His word!
And what does God want of us as Christians. What does He give us wealth for?
Like the rich man in the story above, God wants us to be a blessing to others.
He wants us to be a blessing to His outreach programs in the world and to be
a blessing to our families! As an example from His word this time of what God
blesses His people for, we can read Proverbs 13, verse 22...
Prov 13:22 A good person leaves an inheritance for their children's children,
but a sinner's wealth is stored up for the righteous.
I trust that you realize that all the gold belongs to the Lord and all the
silver also? (See Haggai 2:8) But, God doesn't need them for Himself! For
which people do you think that He put them here? Satan's or God's?
The way they speak, I would not be surprised to find that most believers
belong to a church with pastors who teach them that it's their lot to just
get by, at best!
On the other hand, God has planned that His people have wealth to provide an
inheritance clear through to their grandchildren! Many have physical children
and grandchildren, and some have spiritual children and grandchildren. Are you
interested in taking part in God's plan and leaving them an inheritance?
Do you have a heart (and faith) to do God's will as He reveals it, in all
areas of life, including health and prosperity?
Then don't limit God - Do it!
Now so far I've only talked about the 'wealth' part of the equation because
that's what people are mainly sneering at when they decry Christians regarding
'health and wealth'. So let's look at the 'health' part now!
Is "Health and Wealth" included in the gospel, or not? Should God's
people expect to be sick? Is good health and healing a part of the
gospel message?
Let's look at what the apostle John had to say on the subject.
3 John 1:2 "Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be
in good health, just as your soul prospers."
I've mentioned before that John, under inspiration of the Holy Spirit,
tells believers that he prays that all manner of prosperity and health
should be theirs in the same way that their soul is prospering.
This is interesting in that we see (a) that John is not just referring to
spiritual prosperity or wealth and (b) that health is part of the package!
Now, are people saying that John was in error when he spoke here of a
health and wealth gospel?
I hope not! One should not malign the Holy Spirit's inspiration.
God does not waste words or inspire error! The blessing of
God which applies to all believers includes health and prosperity.
And He has given us the authority to pass it on! When Peter and John
came across a lame man at the gate to the Temple, this is what they
said and did....
Acts 3:4-7 Peter looked directly at him, as did John. “Look at us!”
said Peter. So the man gave them his attention, expecting to receive
something from them. But Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have,
but what I have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth,
get up and walk!” Taking him by the right hand, Peter helped him up,
and at once the man’s feet and ankles were strengthened and He sprang
to his feet and began to walk.
Notice that Peter said, "What I have I give you". Healing was not
something he had to beg and plead for God to provide. It was within
his authority to give it! As with Peter and John, God blesses
His people today to be a blessing to others. That includes good health.
God wants His people to maintain good health, preferably. The blessing
is better than a miracle and God gives advice throughout
His word and through His people on how to maintain the blessing of good
health.
A miracle is for a crisis. God wants to bless rather than keep rescuing
us from crisis after crisis but His power is available for miracles of
healing as well! Just as in the case above with Peter and John! And this
is because Jesus has provided for our healing through His suffering.
Isa 53:5 But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for
our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,
and with his wounds we are healed.
Healing is already ours. It's a done deal. God's done His part. We will
have to check on why we may not receive healing in particular situations,
but the problem will be at the receiving end, not at God's transmitter!
The evidence in Isaiah 53:5 is repeated in 1 Peter 2:24 to give two
witnesses.
1 Pet 2:24 "He himself bore our sins" in his body on the tree, so that
we might die to those sins and live righteously. "By his wounds you
have been healed."
Now these are the scriptures usually quoted and which people stand on for
their healing, but God has sprinkled throughout His word, promises and
information on the healing He has provided for all people. In Matthew 8:17
God tells us this...
Mat 8:17 ...that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through Isaiah the
prophet, saying: He Himself took our infirmities, and bore our diseases.
Jesus took our infirmities and bore our diseases. Our sicknesses have
been taken by Jesus so we do not have to carry them.
Now what spirit would want God's people to deny this and believe that good
health was not a blessing God wanted us to have?
Exactly!
Let's not fall for Satan's deceptions and help him to limit God's people
to accepting poverty as our lot, in health or any other area of life.
This is why Jesus told us in the book of Matthew, chapter 10, verses 7 to 8...
Mat 10:7-8 ... proclaim as you go, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand'.
’Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons'.
Jesus has given us the authority under Him to do this. "In His name", in
other words - but WE have the authority! And notice, proclaiming the kingdom
of heaven goes hand in hand with healing the sick!
In the book of John, Chapter 10, in verse 37, Jesus says this...
John 10:37 If I am not doing the works of my Father, then do not believe me;
but if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that
you may know and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.”
The works Jesus is talking about is, 'miracles, signs and wonders'! That is
what is referred to as works in the book of John. We can see this in Chapter
14 of the same book.
John 14:12 “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do
the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am
going to the Father".
So going back to John, Chapter 10, verse 37, we see that Jesus said don't
believe His words if you don't see Him doing the miracles of God! Jesus
used the healings and other miracles as proof of His ministry and sonship!
And that's why He gave us authority to 'heal the sick, cleanse the lepers,
raise the dead and cast out devils'! As the Father sent Him, He is sending us!
It's the will of God that we do these things. The word of God shows us
His will! God wants us to be well.
And the Apostle John confirmed Jesus' words as mentioned earlier when he said...
3 John 1:2 "Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be
in good health, just as your soul prospers."
Now the book of John is not the only book which makes this point regarding
the importance of healing to the gospel. We can look in the book of Mark to
get two witnesses,
In the gospel of Mark, Chapter 2, verse 10-12 Jesus uses healing as
proof that He could forgive sins. Forgiveness of sins did not come in
isolation!
Mark 2:10-12 "But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority
on earth to forgive sins”—He said to the paralytic— “I say to you,
rise, pick up your bed, and go home.” And he rose and immediately
picked up his bed and went out before them all, so that they were all
amazed and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!"
Did you notice that Jesus links healing as a "proof" that He had the
authority to forgive sins? Now, since Jesus has sent us into the world
in the same way that the Father sent Him, should we (Christians) not
be healing people as proof of our authority to preach forgiveness of
sins by Jesus?
John 20:21-23 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the
Father has sent Me, even so I am sending you.” And when He had said
this, He breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.
If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you
withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.”
So interestingly, we are to tell others of their sins being forgiven,
and yet some would have you believe that "healing", which gives proof
that Jesus is alive to grant that forgiveness, is not part of the gospel!
Why then did Jesus say...
Luke 10:8-9 Whenever you enter a town and they receive you, eat what is
set before you. Heal the sick in it and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God
has come near to you.’
This is also stated in Matthew 10:7-8 to give two witnesses, and I'll
quote that later, but you can see that once again Jesus links healing
the sick with preaching the gospel!
We do hear the cry, "Just believe in Jesus!" "Believe in Jesus!", as
though this should be accepted by non-believers without proof. It's
indeed fortunate if they do properly accept that Jesus is their saviour
without physical proof, but that's not what Jesus expected would happen.
For instance, let's take a look at what Jesus said to the disciples in
Mark 16:17-18.
Mark 16:17-18 And these signs will accompany those who believe: in My
name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues;
they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any
deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on
the sick, and they will recover.”
Notice that Jesus says this will apply to believers. Not some special
group of prophets or apostles; ordinary believers!
This is interesting in that we see Jesus expected healing and health
to be part of the package! To Jesus, health is part of the gospel message.
This authority is not given to us to do tricks; it's to advance the Kingdom
of God, giving proof that Jesus has brought reconciliation to God and
forgiveness of sins to all.
John 14:12 "I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the
same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be
with the Father.
Both Isaiah in Isaiah 53:5 and Peter in 1 Peter 2:24 tell us that it's by Jesus'
stripes/wounds that we are healed. It's a done deal. He did it over 2000 years
ago. It's NOT something He is going to do!
Isa 53:5 But He was pierced for our transgressions; He was crushed for
our iniquities; upon Him was the chastisement that brought us peace,
and with His wounds we are healed.
But, Satan wants people to think that their healing is something God has yet
to do and so they pray for God to heal instead of commanding healing!
Another error people make is to ask for healing "if God wills". This simply
shows their unbelief, since they are unsure that God wants them to be well!
But, by Jesus' stripes/wounds we ARE healed, and we have the authority to
administer that healing to all who need it! Jesus tells us...
Mat 10:7-8 And proclaim as you go, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’
Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons.
Jesus has given us the authority under Him to do this. "In His name", in other
words - but WE have the authority! And notice that once again proclaiming the
kingdom of heaven goes hand in hand with healing the sick! It IS His will!
And notice again, Jesus told US to "Heal the sick." He did not tell us to ask
God, or to pray for God to heal the sick! As my school-teacher would say, "The
'YOU' is understood"!
Now you may be thinking, 'that's what it seems to say reading it in the English
translation, but is that what the people of the time understood"?
Well let's look at how the disciples reacted when the Jewish authorities tried
to stop them preaching. Let's look at Acts 4:29-31...
Act 4:29-31 "Now, Lord, look upon their threats, and grant to Your servants
that with all boldness they may speak Your word, by extending Your hand to heal,
and that signs and wonders may occur through the name of Your holy Servant
Jesus." And when they had prayed, the place where they were gathered was
shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word
of God with boldness.
Notice that they asked God to give them boldness to preach the gospel by giving
them breakthroughs in healing and signs and wonders! Could it be that believers
today are often mute and diffident regarding preaching the gospel to the lost,
because they do not pray for breakthroughs in healing and signs and wonders?
In fact they are often taught NOT to expect it!
Now what spirit would want God's people to believe that they have no authority,
and wield no power to do good and bring health and healing to the world?
Exactly! But we "have" been given the authority!
Jesus came to bring good news to the poor and to deliver them from oppression.
Staying poor is not good news! Staying sick is not good news! Poverty is not a
blessing, it's a curse (Deu 28:15-68); and sickness is oppression by the devil
(Act 10:38). We have been called as Jesus' representatives to bring good
news to the poor and to deliver them from all oppression; sickness, disease,
depression, bondage, etc.
Mark 11:23-25 Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up
and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that
what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you,
whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be
yours.
Notice that YOU have to "say"; not ask God to say! But whatever you ask for
in this way, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. In other
words - 'You tell your problem about God'! You don't tell God about your problem'!
Also, Jesus tells us we can send a literal mountain into the sea if needed! He's
not talking about a general problem because He says "this" mountain, not "a"
mountain. THIS IMPLIES HE'S POINTING AT AN ACTUAL MOUNTAIN NEARBY! We can look
at the context of His making the statement also where Jesus is commenting about
making a fig tree die! Jesus is not talking about nebulous "spritual" problems!
So, let's not fall for Satan's deceptions and help him to limit God's people
by accepting poverty as the norm, in health or any other area of life and
also by not acting on our authority.
As the apostle John said...
3 John 1:2 "Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be
in good health, just as your soul prospers."
Don't let unbelievers or unbelief rob you of the blessing of God!
Best wishes for Grace and The Peace of Jesus.
Attlee.
Another thought....
Does God want us well?
1 Yes! God wants You Well!
2 Healing & Salvation
3 Maybe It Wasn't God's Fault!
4 Paul's Thorn In The Flesh
5 The Blessings Of Healing
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