Caution: Sickness Is Hazardous To Your Health!

Everyone must accept the responsibility to take care of their own health. To take care is to be careful, cautious, responsible, efficient, watchful, attentive, alert and diligent. Many people like to place the responsibility for their health on someone else. Responsibility is defined as having important duties to fulfill, accepting accountability to fulfill obligations, subject to an authority which may administer retribution in the event of failure, neglect or error. No one enjoys sickness, therefore each of us must use caution and accept the responsibility for our health. Sickness is hazardous to your health. A hazard is a source of danger or harm and sickness can often be a life-threatening hazard. If while driving a car you see a road sign informing you of hazards ahead you proceed with caution or take another route. Likewise, you should avoid health hazards and maybe look at taking another route. Some Christian's want their doctor, pastor, family or friend to take the responsibility for their health. God says you are responsible for your body. “That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honor. Every one of us will give an account of ourselves to God” 1TH 4:4; ROM 14:12. You do not own yourself, God does. “Do you not know that you are not your own? for you are bought with a price” 1CO 6:19-20. You do not own your body, God does. “For all things were created by Him and for Him, and He is before all things, and by Him all things consist” COL 1:16-17. You were created by God and for God.  You were created for the sole purpose of glorifying God and giving Him pleasure. “You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for You have created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created. For it is God which works in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure.  Therefore, glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's” REV 4:11; PHI 2:13; 1CO 6:20. Show your love for God by taking care of your self by eating healthy foods, exercise, and proper rest. A disciple of Jesus Christ must be disciplined in every area of their life. 

Healing & Health is always God's will

If God is the same and hasn't changed then His will to heal the sick is the same and hasn't changed.  “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. For I am the Lord, I change not” HEB 13:8; MAL 3:6. There is not one recorded case where Jesus or His follower’s had to seek God's will before healing the sick. This is because healing and health, not sickness, is always God's will. On two occasions Jesus said “I will” when asked to heal. The leper came to Jesus saying “Lord if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean, Jesus put forth His hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean.  And immediately his leprosy was cleansed” MAT 8:2-3. When the centurion came to Jesus and asked Him to heal his paralyzed servant Jesus said “I will come and heal him” MAT 8:5-7. Jesus expressed God's will by saying “I will” heal. “God is no respecter of persons” ACT 10:34; ROM 2:11. He shows no favoritism, partiality or discrimination. If He healed the leper and the Centurion's paralyzed servant, He will heal all who come to Him today. “All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out” JOH 6:37.  God is obligated to confirm His Word by healing those who come to Him. God's will is found in His Word, “I am the Lord that healeth thee.  Who healeth all thy diseases” EXO 15:26; PSA 103:3. Health is normal. The word “sick” is defined as: to be unwell, the condition of being ill, to suffer from or affected with physical illness. The word “disease” is defined as: a physical impairment that interferes with normal bodily function, the quality or state of being enfeebled and weakened in health. Both sickness and disease are abnormal. At Jesus' birth the angels revealed that God's will for man is only good. “Behold, I bring you good tidings (good news) of great joy, which shall be to all people. Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will (good purpose) toward men” LUK 2:10; 2:14. Good news and good will or purpose for man surely cannot include sickness. Nothing evil or bad ever comes from God. Only good things come from God. “The Lord is good. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights” LAM 3:25; JAM 1:17. God has given His greatest gift to all men, eternal life through His Son Jesus Christ. “The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” ROM 6:23. Good health is a good thing from a good God! 

Blessings of Jesus’ death on the Cross

1. Cross defeated and disarmed satan: COL 2:14  Having cancelled the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was opposed to us, He took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross 15  And having disarmed principalities  and powers, He made a spectacle of them openly, triumphing over them by the Cross.    

2. Cross destroyed the power of sin: 1PE 2:24 He Himself did carry our sins in His own body on the Cross, that we, being dead to sins, should live for righteousness. ROM 6:6 We know our old self was crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that from now on we should not serve sin. 7 For he who is dead is freed from sin. 

3. Cross imparts healing: 1PE 2:24 By whose stripes you were healed.  MAT 8:17 Himself took our infirmities and carried our sicknesses. 

4. Cross redeemed (rescued at a price) us from the curse: GAL 3:13  Christ has redeemed us from the curse (cause of suffering & harm) of the law, by becoming a curse for us: for it is written, cursed is every one that hangs on a Cross. 

5. Cross brings peace and reconciliation (restored fellowship) with God: COL 1:20 Having made peace through the blood of His cross, by Him to reconcile all things to Himself. 2CO 5:18   God has reconciled us to Himself by Jesus Christ and has given to us the ministry of reconciliation.

25 Blessings of the Upright

Upright: perfect, complete, entire, without blemish, undefiled.
1. Salvation (Psalm 7:10; Proverbs 28:18)

2. Favor or grace (Psalm 11:7)
3. Rewards (Psalm 18:23-24)
4. Manifestation of God (Psalm 18:25)
5. Preservation (Psalm 25:21)
6. Joy (Psalm 32:11; Psalm 64:10; Psalm 97:11)
7. Loving kindness (Psalm 36:10)
8. Eternal inheritance (Psalm 37:18)
9. Peace (Psalm 37:37)
10. Victory over enemies (Psalm 49:14)
11. All good things (Psalm 84:11)
12. Justice (Psalm 94:15)
13. Prosperity (Psalm 112:2; Proverbs 14:11 & 28:10)
14. Light (Psalm 112:4)
15. Goodness (Psalm 125:4; Micah 2:7)
16. Eternal home with God (Psalm 15:1-2 & 140:13)
17. Contentment (Proverbs 28:6)
18. An earthly home (Proverbs 2:21)
19. Protection (Proverbs 2:7)
20. Strength (Proverbs 10:29)
21. Guidance (Proverbs 11:3; Proverbs 21:29)
22. Deliverance (Proverbs 11:6)
23. A blessing to others (Proverbs 11:11)
24. God's delight (Proverbs 11:20)
25. Answers to prayer (Proverbs 15:8)

6 things God knows about you

1. Your imaginations (Deu 31:21; 1 Chr 28:9; Pro 6:18; Rom 1:21; 2Co. 10:5)
2. Your heart (1Sa 16:7; 1Ki 8:39; Jer 17:9; Luk 16:15; Act 1:24; Act 15:8)
3. All your ways (Job 31:4; Psa 1:6; Pro 5:21; Mar 7:19-21; Heb 4:12)
4. Your secrets (Psa 44:21)
5. Your thoughts (Psa 94:11; 139:2; Isa 66:18; Psa 139:2; Heb 4:12)
6. Every word before you speak it (Psa 139:4)

Characteristics of a good pastor

1.   Personal knowledge: no stranger to God or gospel experiences (John 10:5; 2 Cor. 5:17; John 3:5; Galatians 5:16-26; 1 Cor. 12)

2.   Divine call: not from greed, personal ambition, respect, honor, self-interests, or love of ease (John 10:2; Acts 13:3; 1 Cor. 12:28; Ephes. 4:11; Romans 11:29)

3.   Consecrated motives: God's will and glory, salvation of lost souls, and the best interests of the church and all people (John 10:9-13; Luke 19:10; Acts 10:28; 2 Cor. 5:14-21; Ephes. 4:12)

4.   Divine anointing: not human education, wisdom, polish, and effort only, but divine leading and help (Luke 11:13; Luke 24:49; John 7:37-39; John 14:12-17,26; John 15:26; Acts 1:4-8; Acts 5:32; 1 Cor. 2:1-10; 1 Cor. 12:1-11; 2 Cor. 3)

5.   Personal interest: acquaintance with his flock, private and public instruction, and helpfulness in all problems (John 10:3,9; Acts 20:26-35; Ephes. 1:15-19; Ephes. 3:13-21; 1 Thes. 2:4-13; 2 Tim. 4:1-5; Hebrews 13:7,17)

6.   Good example: lead, not drive; feed, not destroy; and live what is preached (John 10:3-4; 1 Cor. 4:9-13; 2 Cor. 4:8-18; 2 Cor. 6:1-10; 1 Tim. 3:1-13; 1 Tim. 4:11-16; 2 Tim. 2; Titus 1)

7.   Divine success: be zealous and fearless to protect, heal, preserve, increase, visit, and sacrifice for the flock (John 10:9-18; Mark 16:17-18; James 5:14-16; Luke 19:10; Jeremiah 23:1-8; Ezekiel 13:1-9; Ezekiel 34)

Healing and health (not sickness) gives God glory!

INDIVIDUALS GLORIFIED GOD FOR THEIR HEALING:

ZACHARIAS: LUK 1:64 His mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, and praised God.

LAME MAN: LUK 5:25 Immediately he rose up before them, took up that whereon he lay, departed to his own house, glorifying God.

CRIPPLED WOMAN: LUK 13:13 He laid his hands on her: and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God.

LEPER: LUK 17:15 One of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God.

BLIND MAN AT JERICHO: LUK 18:43  Immediately he received his sight, and followed him, glorifying God.

BLIND MAN IN TEMPLE: JOH 9:38 He said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him.

LAZARUS: JOH 11:4 This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.

LAME MAN: ACT 3:8 He leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the emple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.

 

MULTITUDES GLORIFIED GOD FOR HEALINGS:

PARALYZED MAN: MAT 9:8 The multitudes saw it, they marveled, and glorified God, which had given such power unto men.

DUMB-MAIM-LAME-BLIND: MAT 15:31  The multitude wondered, when they saw the dumb to speak, the maimed to be whole, the lame to walk, and the blind to see: and they glorified the God of Israel.

MOTHERS SON RESURRECTED: LUK 7:16 There came a fear on all: and they glorified God, saying, That a great prophet is risen up among us; and that God hath visited his people.

CRIPPLED WOMAN: LUK 13:17 All the people rejoiced for all the glorious things that were done by Him.

BLIND MAN AT JERICHO: LUK 18:43 All the people when they saw it, gave praise to God.

LAME MAN (ACTS): ACT 3:9 All the people saw him walking and praising God. 4:21 All men glorified God for that which was done.

 

SEVERAL PEOPLE GLORIFIED GOD BEFORE THEY RECEIVED THEIR HEALING:

LEPER: MAT 8:2 There came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if you are willing, thou can make me clean.

JAIRUS' DAUGHTER: MAT 9:18 There came a certain ruler, and worshipped him, saying, My daughter is even now dead: but come and lay Your hand on her and she will live.

WOMAN WITH DEMON POSSESSED DAUGHTER: MAT 15:25 She came and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me.

DEMON POSSESSED MAN IN TOMBS: MAR 5:6 When he saw Jesus afar off he ran and worshipped him.

You were bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's - 1Cor 6:20.