New converts are so precious to my heart, I feel a compassion towards them almost to same degree I feel towards those yet saved, and that’s because the foundational knowledge of God in the heart of every believer is so important.
After the joy of their salvation, I want to be just as joyful at the congregation they sit under, the shepherds that have their ears and the knowledge that begins to build the foundation of their convictions.
It never ends with salvation, it only just really starts.
The last couple days on twitter has had my heart absolutely broken over a topic so sensitive but quite popular. People debating whether it is ALWAYS Gods desire to heal.
We even have a sect of Christianity that believe that the supernatural healing days are gone and what we’re left with is just healing by the wisdom of science.
I don’t think it’s in my place to address the latter because the foundation of that belief isn’t just in the healing doctrine alone, it’s in a teaching that the dispensation we are living in is void of the same dunamis we read about when Jesus physically walked the face of the earth. Maybe something to talk about another day.
I write the next couple paragraphs as one who has seen and lived through sickness and affliction. My dad suffered a stroke in 2015 and still lives with some impact of that stroke, my father in law spent the better part of this year in the hospital and I’ve had friends in and out of the hospital over small and very big health matters. I’ve lost relatives and friends to cancer, sickle cell and other terminal illnesses.
All this to say that I am not tone deaf to the impact sickness and affliction has on people and I do not deny the pain and despair it could come with, but do these experiences or any of the heart wrenching ones we read of daily on social media speak to the desire of our God to heal?
I honestly think not. I will never believe that it is not Gods will to heal. I will never believe that someone remains unwell because God chose against healing for the person, I will definitely never believe that supernatural healing is a thing of the past, despite the experiences I’ve lived through, some detailed above.
My introduction to Jesus from such a young age was as Father. I met father, before I met friend, and then I met master. The hierarchy of this meeting mattered so much because I had to understand His heart for me to also understand His purpose for me. I had to understand my privileges as a child to further understand my responsibilities as a servant. If the latter came before the former, I will constantly question my place and position, especially when I can’t make sense of situations I’m faced with.
Too many scriptures to quote and too many references in the bible to cite, what I do make bold to say is Jesus never encountered sickness or affliction and refused to heal or withheld healing, the one time He entered a city and had to leave without performing miracles as was His custom, He spoke to the unbelief of the people there.
Which brings me to the big question probably already on your heart; is sickness and affliction then only a function of the faith and belief of the recipient?
My answer based on my gleanings from the bible is no. While Jesus has not withheld healing, the recipient has not also continued to suffer or be afflicted solely because of their lack of faith and belief. While faith and belief is a factor, it is not the sole factor. We’ve seen and heard of healers die of illnesses, we hear of our own shepherds in churches being under affliction, not to say they have higher faith than we do, but if we could reference a hierarchy, surely they should sit closer to the top.
We can agree on three truths thus far without inconsistencies;
- Sickness and affliction remain subject to Jesus
- The heart of the father is always to heal
- The faith and belief of the sick person is not the only factor to getting their healing
So what’s the deal with sickness and affliction, if we have a God desirous to heal us and faith that we will be healed?
The deal is truly that the impact of this fallen world will always be something we deal with until the return of Jesus. We are fully assured that at His return, all of these afflictions will pass away, so if our hope and anchor is for the time to come when it all passes away, we stand in good company.
So do we entertain and expect sickness and affliction in this time seeing we are still in the fallen world?
No. Despite assurance of a coming glory that supersedes this present afflictions, we must not make room for affliction or give it a place in and around us willingly. Until Jesus’ return, we reject sickness, we lay our hands on the sick and expect to see them healed and we confess healing and deliverance until we see it manifest.
With sickness and affliction, having done all to stand, we stand!
No matter where this post finds you, you need to never be in doubt of Gods desire, willingness and ability to heal, even if you’re under affliction this very minute.
There are certain truths that should remain unchanging in the heart of every believer, no matter the reality we face;
- God is good
- God loves us
- God is our healer
Even when tests arise against these truths, may we bring ourselves to doubt the reality first, even before the character of the God we serve.
When sick and under affliction, when healing and deliverance come, we rejoice. Until healing and deliverance come, we rejoice.
These are some of the hard pills to swallow with the faith that we profess, but what a joy to know it is not the end, and the end does guarantee a life completely void of sickness and affliction.
May our hearts ever be set to believe the heart of a father who truly loves us and not question that love for us even when reality presents us with opportunity to do so.
fochwoman 