Sickness and Healing from the Biblical Perspective

It should be noted that this is what the Bible actually says.

**1 - Why do we get sick?**
**Quotes are from the New King James Version**
Sin	examples - Jealousy (Num 12) - rebellion (Num 16:40-50) - sexual sin (Num 25:1-9) - complaining (Num 21:4-9) 1Corinthians 11:27-30 Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep (are dead).
Self Abuse	over indulgence of wine: (Hosea 7:5), food: (Numbers 11)... 1Corinthians 6:19-20 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's. *Beware of addictions:* Food, work, smoking, drinking, drugs... *Beware of unhealthy lifestyle:* lack of exercise, lack of rest
Old Age	1Kings 1:1 Now King David was old, advanced in years; and they put covers on him, but he could not get warm.
It's a fallen world	Romans 8:22 For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body.
God's purpose (for our good)	John 9:2-3 And His disciples asked Him, saying, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" Jesus answered, "Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him". Isaiah 38:17 Indeed it was for my own peace That I had great bitterness; But You have lovingly delivered my soul from the pit of corruption, For You have cast all my sins behind Your back. 1Corinthians 11:32 But when we are judged, we are chastened (disciplined) by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world. James 1:2-3 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. Hebrews 12:7-11 7 If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons. Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness. Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

2 - Why don't we get healed?
Quotes are from the New King James Version
We
persist
in
Sin unconfessed sin hinders our prayers -
Psalms 66:18 If I regard iniquity in my heart, The Lord will not hear.
1Peter 3:7-11 Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered.
Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous;
not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing.
For "He who would love life And see good days, Let him refrain his tongue from evil, And his lips from speaking deceit.Let him turn away from evil and do good; Let him seek peace and pursue it.
For the eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their prayers; But the face of the LORD is against those who do evil."

damaged relationships:
Matthew 5:23-24 "Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you,
"leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift."

unforgiveness
Mark 11:24-26 "Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.
"And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses.
"But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses."

Wrong
Motives
James 4:3 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?
For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's.

Not
every-
one
will be
healed
Paul's two companions were not healed:
Epahroditus and Trophimus
Philippians 2:25-30 Yet I considered it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker, and fellow soldier, but your messenger and the one who ministered to my need;
since he was longing for you all, and was distressed because you had heard that he was sick.
For indeed he was sick almost unto death; but God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow.
Therefore I sent him the more eagerly, that when you see him again you may rejoice, and I may be less sorrowful.
Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness, and hold such men in esteem;
because for the work of Christ he came close to death, not regarding his life, to supply what was lacking in your service toward me.

2 Timothy 4:20 Erastus stayed in Corinth, but Trophimus I have left in Miletus sick.

Paul himself suffered what is believed to be a physical infirmity
2 Corinthians 12:7-10 And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure.
Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me.
And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

We persist in Sin	unconfessed sin hinders our prayers - Psalms 66:18 If I regard iniquity in my heart, The Lord will not hear. 1Peter 3:7-11 Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered. Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing. For "He who would love life And see good days, Let him refrain his tongue from evil, And his lips from speaking deceit.Let him turn away from evil and do good; Let him seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their prayers; But the face of the LORD is against those who do evil." damaged relationships: Matthew 5:23-24 "Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, "leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift." unforgiveness Mark 11:24-26 "Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them. "And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. "But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses."
Wrong Motives	James 4:3 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's.
Not every- one will be healed	Paul's two companions were not healed: Epahroditus and Trophimus Philippians 2:25-30 Yet I considered it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker, and fellow soldier, but your messenger and the one who ministered to my need; since he was longing for you all, and was distressed because you had heard that he was sick. For indeed he was sick almost unto death; but God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. Therefore I sent him the more eagerly, that when you see him again you may rejoice, and I may be less sorrowful. Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness, and hold such men in esteem; because for the work of Christ he came close to death, not regarding his life, to supply what was lacking in your service toward me. 2 Timothy 4:20 Erastus stayed in Corinth, but Trophimus I have left in Miletus sick. Paul himself suffered what is believed to be a physical infirmity 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Sickness and Healing from the Biblical Perspective

It should be noted that this is what the Bible actually says.

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last updated on 1st May 2001