Greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus, by whose stripes we were healed. Our hot summer days are long gone here in Nashville, and there are not too many warm autumn ones left to enjoy either. Winter is right around the corner. Sometimes these changes of seasons bring about changes in our bodies. Winter cold and flu commercials will be showing up on our televisions, radios and Internet sites.
Our adversary is poised and ready to see who he can entice to accept these troublesome afflictions. He comes at everyone with sickness, sinner and saint alike. Our God does not have any sickness or disease in heaven, so He is not the source. Many debate whether demons or evil spirits are the cause of sickness and disease. I firmly believe they have a part to play in them in some way—if none other than Satan’s role in the fall of man and curse upon the earth.
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour. I Peter 5:8
Because of Satan, all of the food we consume from the earth is cursed. Then we have man injecting and fertilizing our food sources with chemicals of all sorts to make them produce more and produce faster. That alone makes us susceptible to sickness and disease, for these things were never meant to be consumed! That is why it is imperative to pray and sanctify your food before eating. Further, there are also Satan’s minions who come along at the first ache, sniffle or cough to plant seeds (thoughts) of sickness in our minds. They are thoughts that exalt themselves over the Word of God (II Cor. 10:5). Since before the time Lucifer’s name was changed to Satan, he has tried to convince angels and humans that the words he speaks are more powerful and true than God’s.
That can never be true! I remind you this is why he is called the “father of lies” (John 8:44). Jesus is the Word and the Truth! There is nothing higher than the name of Jesus. Jesus is the one who came to the earth and made a public show of Satan’s defeat (Col. 2:15). Satan’s sickness and disease couldn’t stay around Jesus—even death had to submit to His command. Death has lost its sting (1 Cor. 15:55). Our adversary’s only power is deception! If he can deceive you, health and life will escape you. Jesus says,
“There will be mighty and violent earthquakes, and in various places famines and pestilences (plagues: malignant and contagious or infectious epidemic diseases which are deadly and devastating); and there will be sights of terror and great signs from heaven.” —Luke 21:11 AMP
As we walk out the end of the ages, Jesus warns us about many aspects of circumstances we can expect. One of those is pestilences. Satan will use these pestilences to convince men that God is the one who implements the curse of sickness and disease— that it is God’s will they be sick or God that allows it to happen “for a reason.” Many point to Job as back up for this doctrine, but remember, Job was already in Satan’s hands (authority), although Satan didn’t know it—God had to tell him (Job 1:12, 2:6). Satan always creates confusion about our loving Father, causing some to deny Jesus or blaspheme the Holy Spirit, hence drawing them into hell.
Much of the Church is confused about healing, which in itself reveals the fingerprints of our adversary (I Cor. 14:33). Why would Satan want to sow confusion about healing? To be blunt, he wants every human dead, especially Christians. If he can get you to believe his lie that “you are sick,” instead of the truth of God’s Word which declares, “by Jesus’ stripes you were healed,” he is well on his way.
You see, Christians are a threat to Satan and should carry the Gospel (good news) everywhere they go. Part of that good news is “by Jesus’ stripes you were healed.” The Salvation that Jesus supplies is not just a ticket to heaven, but healing and a full supply of all the things you need to live in peace here on earth. Diseases are going to grow worse. Take cancer, for instance. Cancer.gov states that almost 40% of people will be affected by cancer based on 2010-2012 data. That is one out of three people. This is Jesus’ prophecy coming to pass. A pestilence is defined as “a fatal epidemic disease, or pernicious (exceedingly harmful) or malign (evil) influence that is hard to get rid of.” That describes cancer to a tee, and it also fits our adversary Satan as well. HOWEVER, sickness and disease is part of the battle for which we have been equipped, so do not be deceived! Our weapons are far more advanced than those of our adversary.
For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds. II Corinthians 10:4
It is not possible for me to go through all of our weapons here, which is why it is important for you to study. The greatest weapon ever mentioned in Scripture, however, is the Word—the TWO-EDGED SWORD. Without the Word we would be ignorant, as many are, of how to fight the pestilences in these End Times. It breaks my heart to see and hear about people who love God, but have no clue how to fight the good fight of faith with God’s Word or cast out devils.
My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children. —Hosea 4:6
For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. I John 5:4
It is our faith in Jesus that overcomes the world, and that includes the world of sickness and disease. John Osteen (Joel’s Father) would say, “Store up the Word of God in your heart!” The Word of God is medicine to all your flesh (Prov. 4:20-22), and the Holy Spirit makes alive your mortal body when you take this medicine (Rom. 8:11). Storing up God’s Word in your heart gives you an abundance of medication to fight off every sickness and disease.
Further, the Word does not work alone but must be combined with the Spirit. Many know Scriptures about healing, but do they have a “know that they know” resolution in their hearts? Is the Word more real to them than anything else, especially their circumstances? If not, this leaves them without adequate faith or knowledge of the truth to overcome. For example, I have the knowledge that planes fly, however, I do not have total knowledge of how to fly a plane. Many say God heals, but don’t know how to receive the healing.
The Holy Spirit is the teacher of the Word. He is not like a normal teacher who teaches facts and deductions, philosophies and theories. He brings a divine understanding of the Word; we can say that He brings illumination and revelation. He brings a solid knowing, without a shadow of doubt that what you know about the subject is the truth. It is the Word and the Spirit that makes us more than conquerors!
How do you receive this revelation knowledge? As mentioned, feeding on the Word of God stores up the Word in your heart and elevates your belief that God’s Word will perform the way God promises—when believed. Faith comes by hearing the Word (Rom. 10:17). According to Charles Capps, your faith ends at the question mark; beyond the question mark is unbelief. Whatever your mind has not been renewed to in the area of healing is where your belief stops and unbelief begins. And remember, Jesus was unable to do mighty works in Capernaum because of their unbelief (Matt. 13:58). Is this you? Then lock into the Word of God in the area of healing until your faith obliterates that question mark! My wife and I call it “spiritual Draino.” Lock into the Word, have it before your eyes and pumping through your home audibly and through your car speakers until your unbelief clog is destroyed! Remember, healing is not something for which you pray “God’s will,” the promises of healing belong to every believer.
It is knowing the truth that will set you free. Jesus says, “My Word is truth!” Ignorance of God’s Word is always why men perish before they are satisfied. So many want to know, “Why?” It is always a lack of knowledge. No one knows all but the Father, and we should seek His wisdom first on all things. When we know what to do, we do it and trust God with the rest. However, we must know what the Word says to do; a lack of that knowledge could prove fatal.
God, our God, will take care of the hidden things but the revealed things are our business. It’s up to us and our children to attend to all the terms in this Revelation. Deuteronomy 29:29 (MSG)
Michelle and I love you and are praying for you and your family. It is our pray that you have a wonderful Thanksgiving and join us in thanking our Lord for all of our many blessings and, most importantly, giving us His Son, Jesus!
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