The book of Hebrews was written to Jewish Christians who were struggling in their spiritual walk with God. They were in sin. They were not in the Word, not attending church, and being spiritually faithful. They were suffering. So God simply reminds them their suffering is His loving discipline to motivate them to a correct behavior.      God also uses suffering for His own glory (Exodus 4:11; John 9:3; 11:4),     And the LORD said to him, "Who has made man's mouth? Or who makes him dumb or deaf, or seeing or blind? Is it not I, the LORD? (NASB) Exodus 4:11 But when Jesus heard it, He said, "This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified by it." (NASB) John 11:4   Why are people in hospital beds and mental facilities? Because God uses illness to draw non-Christians and wayward Christians to Himself. He uses illness as a discipline to motivate Christians to turn from sin. He uses illness to cause some Christians to grow spiritually. He even allows illness to prevent Christians from sinning (2 Corinthians 12:7-10).     When Does God Heal? As we have already read, there are times God chooses for us to suffer. How long we suffer is determined by God. Sometimes the length of our suffering to determined by His purposes. Other times it depends on us - how long we choose to keep sinning. And on other occasions, He does not heal because we lack faith.     When Jesus was present on this earth, He healed many people. People who were blind, lame, those who could not hear and those who could not speak (Matthew 8:14-17). This was a sign of the coming Messiah (Isaiah 53:4). The Jews believed the Messiah would come in power with a new teaching (Mark 6:2). Matthew shows that He did. But it is important to remember that Jesus did not heal every everyone,     And He did not do many miracles there because of their unbelief. (NASB) Matthew 13:58   Who was not healed - unbelievers or believers? Scripture does not say that everyone who believed and was healed was a "Christian." Scripture says Jesus healed because He felt compassion (Matt. 9:36; 14:14; 15:32; 20:34) for the people. Many were not healed because they lacked faith. What kind of faith - faith He could heal them or personal faith in Jesus?     For Christians, the Holy Spirit tells us,     Is anyone among you sick? 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 offered in faith will restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up, and if he has committed sins, they will be forgiven him. Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. (NASB) James 5:14-16   Notice the three parts required of a Christian: 1) faith 2) confession of sins to one another, and 3) pray for one another. More than faith is required. More than prayer is required. Confession of sins is required. Christians need to remember they are still sinners even though they are forgiven and going to heaven. When does God heal this way? When we pray, have faith, and confess to one another.     Faith. What kind of faith is James 5:14-16 talking about? Some teach that faith must not waver. They may refer to James 1:6. But Paul, the apostle, had great faith, yet His prayer for personal healing was not answered (2 Corinthians 12:7-9). So how do we understand faith? Probably the best example of faith in action is found in Daniel,     . . . our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire; and He will deliver us out of your hand, O king. "But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up." (NASB) Daniel 3:17-18       < Back   Next >
	Home | Logo | Search For God | Weekly Study | Q & A | Other Studies Copyright © Like The Master Ministries. All Rights Reserved. Q & A