Lesson 450 - Senior

Memory Verse

"He was wounded for our transgres-sions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed" (Isaiah 53:5).

Cross References

I Commission to Disciples

1. Jesus sent forth His disciples with power to heal all manner of disease, [MAT:10:1]; [MAK:6:7], [MAK:6:12-13].

2. The disciples were sent first to the lost sheep of Israel; later they were sent to all the world, [MAT:10:5-8]; [MAK:16:15-18]; [ACT:1:8].

3. No nationality is excluded from God's promises, but faith in God brings the blessing, [ACT:10:34-35]; [ACT:14:8-10]; [ROM:10:12].

II Following Instructions

1. The afflicted are instructed to pray, [JAM:5:13]; [PS:50:14-15].

2. The sick are instructed to call for the elders of the church, [JAM:5:14].

3. "The prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up" [JAM:5:15-16]; [PS:34:19]; [PS:103:2-5]; [ISA:54:11-14].

4. Illustration is given of the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man, [JAM:5:17-18]; [ISA:38:1-5].

Notes

The Word of God plainly declares that divine healing is provided for God's children in the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Divine healing is a truth that we should study in the Word of God to have our faith firmly planted in the Scriptures. We should know how to find the Scripture in the Bible where God instructs us to trust Him, and we should take our stand upon His promises. The personal testimony of many people is eloquent witness of what God is able to do and has been doing in the healing of physical needs in our generation.

Origin of Disease

Where did disease come from? How did sickness enter into the world? Sorrow, suffering, and death entered into the world as the result of the fall of man into sin. Up to the point of yielding to the first temptation, everything had been beautiful in the lives of Adam and Eve. The Garden, in which they lived had been planted by God. It was a paradise, but disobedience to God's commandment annulled the perfection of the first parents. God had warned Adam that if he ate of "the tree of the knowledge of good and evil" he would die. When Adam disobeyed, he died a spiritual death that very moment, and he died a physical death at a later time. Adam and Eve were driven from the Garden of Eden, and sorrow, suffering, and death, with all the associated diseases, became the part and lot of mankind from that day onward.

Why Sickness?

Disobedience to God's commandment brought sorrow and suffering to the first parents. This is still true in the world today. When men disobey God they can expect affliction or disease. Often men are pursuing their own way in sin when affliction comes upon them, but at times an affliction or sickness will cause a sinner to turn his heart to the Lord. "Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word" [PS:119:67]). If an affliction causes a sinner to seek the Lord and salvation, it is the mercy of God that allows the affliction.

God allows sickness to try His children at times, too. "It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes," [PS:119:71]). Sometimes the Christian travels the strait and narrow way without putting all the zeal into his service to God that he should. Each true Christian enjoys his service to God, but could not each one work more earnestly for the Lord who has done so much for us? To stir the hearts of men, the Lord sometimes allows an affliction to come. What is the desired result? Affliction should lead one to a spirit of prayer; affliction should bring one to a closer walk with God; affliction directs one to an examination of his spiritual foundation. It is a good thing to examine the heart when these things come, to be sure that all is well with the soul. If all is not well, then one should repair that spiritual breach, that the prayer of faith can be prayed and God can restore the health. If the foundation is examined and all is well, then one can look into the face of God with complete confidence; and, with renewed consecration of heart and life to God, he can know that the Lord will hear and answer prayer.

Victory over Disease

"He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil" ([1JN:3:8]). This is a wonderful promise. All that was lost by mankind through disobedience to God can be regained through faith in the Atonement of our Lord Jesus Christ. He was manifested to destroy the works of the devil. Sorrow, suffering, and disease are the results of the work of the devil, but Jesus Christ was manifested to give victory over these things.

In Isaiah 53, a chapter prophetic of the first coming of Jesus to this earth, we read: "He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed" [ISA:53:5]). The New Testament confirms that this Scripture means physical healing. "When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses" [MAT:8:16-17]). In the Old Testament God promised the Children of Israel, "I am the LORD that healeth thee" [EXO:15:26]). In the New Testament we have the promise of the healing of our bodies through the Atonement purchased by Jesus Christ through His suffering and death. The stripes were laid upon the back of the blessed Son of God. Those terrible, cruel thongs of the whip-man's lash drew blood with every stripe: "By whose stripes ye were healed."

The Same Christ

While Jesus lived on earth, "great multitudes followed him, and he healed them all" [MAT:12:15]). Blindness, lameness, palsy, leprosy -- all fled at His command. No disease, or even death, could any longer hold fast when Jesus spoke the word to heal, or put forth His hand to touch the afflicted one. The fact that Jesus Christ now sits on the right hand of God in Heaven does not lessen His power to heal, nor does it lessen His compassion for mankind. "Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever" [HEB:13:8]). We read again, "We have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin" [HEB:4:15]).

It is a wonderful privilege to trust God for the healing of sicknesses. Some feel this choice is left to the individual -- if one wants to trust God for healing, that is well; or, if one does not trust God for healing, that is well, also. But what about the statements in the Scriptures? "Asa in the thirty and ninth year of his reign was diseased in his feet, until his disease was exceeding great: yet in his disease he sought not to the LORD, but to the physicians" [2CH:16:12]). He was not healed, but he died. "Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD" [JER:17:5]). "Heal me, O LORD, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved: for thou art my praise" [JER:17:14]). These Scriptures indicate that God desires His children to trust Him for the healing of their sicknesses and infirmities. Divine healing is not optional, but a command; a duty, as well as a privilege.

Delayed Answers

It seems that sometimes the Lord delays answering His people's prayers for healing. The Syrophenician woman [MAK:7:25-30]) and blind Bartimæus [MAK:10:46-52]) are examples of those who had to ask repeatedly before their requests were granted. Mary and Martha sent for Jesus when their brother was sick, but Jesus did not come until Lazarus had been dead four days. Delays on the Lord's part are not denials, however. The Lord's ways are the best ways, and He always answers in due time. The Lord may allow sickness to try the faith of His people, "that the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ" [1PE:1:7]). Faith need not falter or fail, for the promise is: "The prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up" [JAM:5:15]).

Ways and Means

During His ministry on earth Jesus gave His disciples the commission and power to go forth and "heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give" [MAT:10:8]; see also [LUK:10:17-20]). Prior to His ascension Christ again gave His disciples this commission: "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.... these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents, and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them, they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover" [MAK:16:15-18]). The Apostles and early disciples fulfilled this commission to the very letter, going forth and preaching the Gospel everywhere, "the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following" [MAK:16:20]).

If we had no evidence of God's willingness to heal the sick in our generation, we might wonder; however, many have received miraculous healings in recent years. We have heard the testimony of those who have received divine healing for cancer, heart trouble, tuberculosis, blood poisoning, and many other diseases. Our missionaries brought the report from Mexico of a blind lady whose sight has been restored through prayer and faith in God. God is still saying to those who will trust His Word, "I am the LORD that healeth thee."

So today, we have the privilege to trust in the Atonement of Jesus Christ for the healing of physical ills. The shed Blood of Christ avails for both salvation from sin and the healing of any manner of sickness. God's Word and instructions are clear: "Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms. Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: and the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him" [JAM:5:13-15]).

Questions

1. How did sickness and disease enter into the world?

2. Through what means are the works of the devil destroyed?

3. What was God's promise of healing to the Children of Israel?

4. How is divine healing provided for God's children in the New Testament?

5. Why does God sometimes allow sickness to enter the life of a sinner?

6. Why are God's children sometimes allowed to suffer sickness?

7. What are the instructions of God's Word to afflicted Christians?

8. What are the instructions to Christians who are sick?

9. What is God's promise to the afflicted and sick Christians who fulfil His Word?