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More on Divine Healing!!! |
Job 42:10 & 12
“And the LORD turned the captivity of Job, when he
prayed for his friends: also the LORD gave Job TWICE AS MUCH AS HE HAD
BEFORE....So the LORD blessed the latter end of Job MORE THAN HIS
BEGINNING...”
I have listened to many viewpoints by now on the topic of Divine Healing on the list, and I just wanted to share with you my experience in life, and some instances in Scripture where people use instances in the Bible to justify not believing God for their healing. (My prayer is that none will read this as though I am trying to put condemnation of others.)
I once knew a man bound by severe arthritis who taught and believed in Divine Healing, but was afraid to ask God whether or not it was the will of God to heal him, because he was afraid God would disappoint him and tell him, “NO!” (This man’s own words.)
My main intention at this point in further discussing this topic is to help others obtain freedom in approaching the Throne Room of God, and encouraging them to petition for Divine Healing from the One who is touched with their infirmities.
Some say that they are suffering the way they are “like Job”. If we say that we are going through something the way “Job” suffered, then we should also have the hope of obtaining the same end in our suffering that Job had. “And the LORD turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the LORD gave Job TWICE AS MUCH AS HE HAD BEFORE....So the LORD blessed the latter end of Job MORE THAN HIS BEGINNING...”
If you believe you are suffering like Job, then you should also be believing for the same end result that Job had in his life. In Chapter 42 of the Book of Job we find that not only was Job HEALED, but God gave Job TWICE AS MANY POSSESSIONS, ETC. AS HE HAD BEFORE HIS SUFFERING. He was so blessed AFTER GOD HEALED HIM that the Bible records that the LATTER END OF JOB’S LIFE WAS MORE ABUNDANT THAN WHEN HE STARTED OUT.
See Job Chapter 29 for details on the splendor of Job’s life and walk with God.
What some presume to be a case against Divine Healing, actually turns out to be a great example of what Overcoming Faith is. James writes, “Behold, we count them happy which persevere. You have heard of the perseverance of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and full of tender mercy.” (James 5:11)
And then James goes on in Chapter 5, starting in verse 13, “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 will heal the sick, and the LORD shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven...The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth (benefits, accomplishes) much.”
I happen to believe that we should pray for all who are sick to be healed, and I don’t believe you have to be omniscient to know which ones to pray for, as some teach saying that only God knows which ones it is His will to heal. I also believe that every sick person should have the freedom to boldly approach the very Throne Room of God and ask their God so full of mercy for Divine Health in this lifetime. Is anything too hard for God?
I don’t think we should stop asking God to heal the sick because Paul told Timothy to mix a little wine with water for his stomach either. This reference to Scripture does not indicate that Paul meant for this temporary ailment of Timothy’s to be a life-long testimony stating that it’s not God’s will to heal all. Nor do I think that Paul meant for us to stop asking God for healing because God was perfecting His strength in Paul during his attack from the enemy. I think that Paul, rather found, that Victory was more assured to him through this circumstance because perseverance rather than instantaneous deliverance was building greater character in Paul at this time, during this specific circumstance. Paul said the messenger of Satan was buffeting him, in other words, he was under enemy attack. What God was actually doing, was rather than instantaneously removing the circumstance, God was increasing the Divine Ability of God on the inside of Paul, not leaving Paul in a “buffeted state” without protection, but rather the Anointing and strength of God was being perfected, matured, more thoroughly completed in Paul so that Paul could achieve victory over the attacks of the Enemy through strengthened character being perfected in him rather than instantaneous deliverance.
Paul said that he would rather glory in his infirmities so that the POWER OF CHRIST or the Anointing of the Anointed One would more mightily rest upon him. How many that say they are suffering like Paul are actually having the Anointing of God more mightily increased in their lives so that they are actually able to destroy more works of the devil rather that stay in a buffeted or infirmed state? Paul said that he realized that his weaknesses (not sickness) made him depend more mightily upon the strength of God inside him. In verse 12 of that same Chapter the Apostle Paul goes on to say that, “Truly the signs of an Apostle were worked among you...in signs, and wonders, and MIGHTY DEEDS.” This, my Brothers and Sisters, is not a testimony of how Paul’s thorn meant that he stayed sick all his life. God’s strength being perfected when he, the Apostle Paul, was weak meant that more of Christ’s power to work signs, wonders, and mighty deeds RESTED UPON HIM even though he faced very difficult circumstances in his life.
Is your sickness or infirmity causing more miracles to follow your ministry? Then how can we say we are suffering like the Apostle Paul?
Even though Paul’s thorn in the flesh mentions nothing about physical disease or sickness. The Scripture states that Satan sent a fallen angel to buffet (punch, deal a blow to) him. Satan was trying to stop Paul’s ministry from over abounding or growing too large because Paul had a deep revelation of Jesus Christ that he was preaching worldwide. God didn’t send Satan to humble Paul, Satan sent a fallen angel to come against Paul’s ministry. Why would God send an enemy of the Gospel to attack the prosperity of the Gospel? The evil messenger was sent by Satan, not God. Jesus said a house divided cannot stand. In the same light, God would not send an evil messenger to attack a holy messenger. The evil messenger was sent by Satan to attack Paul’s ministry so that the revelation of Jesus Christ he had would be hindered from spreading any further.
It amazes me how far some will go to turn the meaning of passages of the Bible around into Victory for devil, but defeat for the Saint.
[ read the real story of Job's life here ]
Job
29:1-25
CHAPTER 29
[ back to reading article ]
{Job Speaks of His Former Blessings--} Job continued speaking:
"I long for the years gone by when God took care of me, when he lighted the way before me and I walked safely through the darkness. In my early years, the friendship of God was felt in my home. The Almighty was still with me, and my children were around me. In those days my cows produced milk in abundance, and my olive groves poured out streams of olive oil.
"Those were the days when I went to the city gate and took my place among the honored leaders. The young stepped aside when they saw me, and even the aged rose in respect at my coming. The princes stood in silence and put their hands over their mouths. The highest officials of the city stood quietly, holding their tongues in respect.
"All who heard of me praised me. All who saw me spoke well of me. For I helped the poor in their need and the orphans who had no one to help them. I helped those who had lost hope, and they blessed me. And I caused the widows' hearts to sing for joy. All I did was just and honest. Righteousness covered me like a robe, and I wore justice like a turban. I served as eyes for the blind and feet for the lame. I was a father to the poor and made sure that even strangers received a fair trial. I broke the jaws of godless oppressors and made them release their victims.
"I thought, 'Surely I will die surrounded by my family after a long, good life. For I am like a tree whose roots reach the water, whose branches are refreshed with the dew. New honors are constantly bestowed on me, and my strength is continually renewed.'
"Everyone listened to me and valued my advice. They were silent as they waited for me to speak. And after I spoke, they had nothing to add, for my counsel satisfied them. They longed for me to speak as they longed for rain. They waited eagerly, for my words were as refreshing as the spring rain. When they were discouraged, I smiled at them. My look of approval was precious to them. I told them what they should do and presided over them as their chief. I lived as a king among his troops and as one who comforts those who mourn. (NLT)
The end of Job's life was better than this Chapter of his life... imagine that? How can Job's life be a testimony that God does not heal all when Job himself WAS HEALED and was blessed with a greater abundance of riches than the first part of his life, and he had new sons and daughters given to him as well so that even the richness of his family was restored by God!!!
Job 42:12-17
So the LORD blessed Job in the second half of his life even more than in the beginning. For now he had fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand
camels, one thousand teams of oxen, and one thousand female donkeys. He also gave Job seven more sons and three more daughters.
He named his first daughter Jemimah, the second Keziah, and the third
Keren-happuch. In all the land there were no other women as lovely as the daughters of Job. And their father put them into his will along with their brothers.
Job lived 140 years after that, living to see four generations of his children and
grandchildren. Then he died, an old man who had lived a long, good life.
(NLT)
If anything, Job's healing, the end of his life, and his continued health and prosperity were testimonies FOR divine healing...
