LESSON 2

This is a difficult lesson due to large amount of material. You will be introduced to many different Biblical principals. However, unless you first pray and ask the Holy Spirit to lead you into all truth, you will not gleen everything out of this lesson. So pray first, then read and meditate on the principles herein, and to God be the Glory.

Does God send sickness on the earth?

Satan is the author of your destruction and he wants to destroy you here on earth so you are of no use to the kingdom of God, not only on earth, but eternally as well.

Satan wants to destroy you. He is the author of destruction in your life. Jesus came to bring you life, and have it to the full. Jesus brings you the gift of a rich full life (which means it is not cut short by sickness or disease before your appointed time). However, as with Salvation, you must be in a position to receive the gift into your life or it will do you no good.

The book of Job clearly shows Satan's desire to destroy Job; but Satan could only destroy what God allowed.

The Bible tells us that Satan is a roaring Lion; seeking who he can destroy. He will try to destroy us, but we are to resist him and stand firm in our Faith in God and then God will himself restore us.

"Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings. And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen." (1 Peter 5:8-11)

 If we do not resist the devil, however, and fall into unrepentant sin, we can give the enemy "legal ground" in our life. In Matthew 16 we find one account of Peter's sin:

"Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. "Never, Lord!" he said. "This shall never happen to you!" Jesus turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men." (Matthew 16:22-23)

Un-repentant sin can open a "doorway" into our life and give the enemy "legal ground" (or a legal right) in our lives. This legal ground, as we will discuss later in this study, can manifest as sickness. The principal of "legal ground" is made clear in Luke 22:31-32:

"And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers." (Luke 22:31-32)

It was Satan who wanted to "sift" Peter because of his sin. In the Greek the meaning is "demanded his right to sift Peter." This speaks to the issue of legal ground -- we can give the enemy legal ground [or a legal right] in our life through sin. The term translated "asked for" in the NIV translation or "hath desired" in the King James translation is the Greek word "exaiteomai" which means "to demand (for trial)" This is a legal right we can give the enemy. As an aside, Luke 22:32 tells us how important intercession is for each of us. In this case, Jesus interceded for Peter that his faith would not fail as a result of the sifting by Satan. Notice also that Jesus instructs Peter that "when he has turned back" (in other words -- repented), he was to strengthen his brothers in the faith.

The Biblical principal is this: "When we sin we give the enemy legal ground in our life." This initial entry way into our lives is called a foothold. (But, as we shall find out later, if we do not deal with it, it will soon become a stronghold. [2 Cor 10:4 ff])

We can give the devil a foothold in our life through Sin. Hence the warning in Eph 4:27: "Do not give the devil a foothold." The sin context of this passage is "unrepentant anger" (see verse Eph 4:26)

It is clear from Job, that Satan brings sickness to the righteous, but consider 1 John 3:8 which tells us that Jesus appeared to destroy all the works of the devil:

"He who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work." (1 John 3:8)

If you do what is sinful, you are of the Devil (doing the devils work), but the point to be made here is that God appeared to destroy all of the devil's work -- and the Devil's work is to utterly destroy YOU!!!

Jesus demonstrates this commission to destroy all the works of the Devil in Acts 10:38:

"..How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him." (Acts 10:38)

Jesus healed ALL who were under the power of the devil. Jesus healed everyone who was sick because of the power of Satan in their life.

The Good News is that "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever." (Heb 13:8) That same healing he brought to those oppressed of the devil when He was in the flesh is available to each of us today.  Jesus is the same today, He changes not. With Him there is no shadow of turning. Jesus still wants to destroy the works of the devil in your life.

 It is much better, however, that we do not sin and thereby give the devil a foothold. James 4:7 is often quoted: "Resist the devil and he will flee from you." This is true, but it quoted out of context. The first part of that passage is "Submit yourself to God" and then and only then will you be able to resist the devil so he will flee from you. "Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." Satan will flee because 1 John 4:4 tells us:

"You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world." (1 John 4:4)

This is a fine point, but recognize that God does not send disease to His children. But for God's true children (the righteous of God in Christ), sickness is "allowed", as we merit it by sin, to refine us and restore us to our position in Christ.

Consider James 1:16-17

"Don't be deceived, my dear brothers. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows." (James 1:16-17)

Only good and perfect gifts come down from heaven from the Father to his children (my dear brothers, means brothers with Christ).

So again, sometimes, when a child of God gets off-track (backslides) God will allow sickness into your life (as you merit it) for His purposes (your restoration).

Consider Hebrews 12:5. God does test and rebukes us:

"And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons: "My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you" (Heb 12:5)

But also consider Psalm 118: "The LORD is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation. Shouts of joy and victory resound in the tents of the righteous: "The LORD'S right hand has done mighty things! The LORD'S right hand is lifted high; the LORD'S right hand has done mighty things!" I will not die but live, and will proclaim what the LORD has done. The LORD has chastened me severely, but he has not given me over to death" (Psa 118:14-18)

God will allow trials and tribulation in our life to refine and restore us, but God also promises in His Word, that He will not give us over to death until our appointed time. Remember the afflictions that Satan brought on Job were limited by God.

When Jesus was up on the high mountain after his 40 days of fasting, Satan made Him a proposal to give him all the kingdoms of the world if He would bow down and worship Satan. It is interesting to note that Jesus did not refute Satan's claim of authority over the world, but dispatched Satan with a command to leave and a quote of scripture "You shall worship the Lord your God, and only Him you shall serve." When you are serving Satan, you are under his dominion and he comes to kill, to maim and destroy. (John 10:10, Rom 6:16) The end result of sin is always death. "The wages of sin is death" (Rom 3:23). But Jesus came to give life and life abundantly.

In the book of Job we are told that Satan cannot get to Job. The Lord has placed motes and hedge rows around him for his protection. When the hedge rows are removed we see what happens to Job. We also see that God is in control and Satan's testing of Job can only go as far as God sovereignly allows. However we are free to choose who we will serve. "Choose this day whom you will serve, as for me and my house, we will serve the lord".

So let's be clear, God does send sickness and disease as an instrument of His judgment to the unrepentant in open rebellion toward God and will allow it in the lives of believers, as they merit it by sin, to restore them.

Egypt is, in scripture, a symbol of an unrepentant and rebellious people and there is no question that God sent disease to the unrepentant and disobedient unbelievers as series of judgments exacted upon Egypt. But notice that after each judgment, the sinners had a chance to repent (in this case Pharaoh). Note: - The sins of a leader of a nation will be visited upon the people of a nation -- consider also David when he sinned by numbering his troops.

But Pharaoh hardened his heart and would not repent. This was the case after Aaron's rod turned into a snake, the plague of blood, the plague of frogs, the plague of gnats, and after the plague of flies.

But noticed what happened after the sixth plague: "But the LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh; and he did not heed them, just as the LORD had spoken to Moses." (Exo 9:12).

There comes a time in your persistent sin that God will no longer allow repentance. Repentance always starts with God. This is how it is when you first come to that place of accepting Jesus as Lord and are reborn by the Spirit of God: "No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day." (John 6:44)

You cannot continue to live a life of sin and think someday when I've had my full of sin, then I'll turn to God. No, you have no guarantee that God will ever bring you to that place of repentance again. This is why the scripture says that today is the day of your salvation and that if you hear His voice calling to you, do not harden your hearts. "My Spirit shall not strive with man forever" (Gen 6:3)

This principal is also made clear in Romans 1:20-32:

For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

But there is a large difference between God judging an unrepentant sinner in open rebellion against God (like Herod who was eaten by worms) with sickness and God restoring a back slidden believer. Psalm 118 says it best: "...but he has not given me over to death."

Sin is a larger source of physical and mental sickness then most would care to acknowledge.

"He said, 'If you listen carefully to the voice of the LORD your God and do what is right in his eyes, if you pay attention to his commands and keep all his decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the LORD, who heals you.'" (Exo 15:26)

Yes, consider carefully the Lord's promise, given through Moses, to God's children the Israelites (and I would remind you that if you belong to Christ, you are indeed the seed of Abraham -- see Gal 3:29):

"If you do not carefully follow all the words of this law, which are written in this book, and do not revere this glorious and awesome name--the LORD your God-- the LORD will send fearful plagues on you and your descendants, harsh and prolonged disasters, and severe and lingering illnesses. He will bring upon you all the diseases of Egypt that you dreaded, and they will cling to you. The LORD will also bring on you every kind of sickness and disaster not recorded in this Book of the Law, until you are destroyed." (Deut 28:58-61)

It is not God's heart to bring judgment. His heart is always toward repentance. Even in the last of the last days, as recorded in the Book of the Revelation, after each "Bowl" judgment it was noted that still man did not repent. Our God is a Good God abounding in Love and full of mercy, but there is a point of no return.

Consider Adam and Eve. Adam and Eve had perfect fellowship with God and as a result, they lived in a perfect environment; no sickness or disease. When they rebelled against God in disobedience, they lost their perfect fellowship with God and forfeited the blessings of God on their lives. They chose to believe Satan and not God. Choose this day whom you will serve. Sin always exacts a penalty.

It is interesting that God, when Adam & Eve sinned, showed how he would provide for their redemption by making tunics of skin to cover them -- for without the spilling of blood, there is no remission for sin.

Are you struggling with sickness or disease. Do you want to live and not die? Jesus tells us how in Matthew 4:1-4

How does man live? ...ON EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDS FROM THE MOUTH OF GOD. DO YOU WANT TO LIVE AND NOT DIE?

"The LORD is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation. Shouts of joy and victory resound in the tents of the righteous: "The LORD'S right hand has done mighty things! The LORD'S right hand is lifted high; the LORD'S right hand has done mighty things!" I will not die but live, and will proclaim what the LORD has done. The LORD has chastened me severely, but he has not given me over to death" (Psa 118:14-18)

It is so important to speak out loud the scriptural promises of God regarding healing and deliverance.

If you want to be healthy, "Walk in the Light". For there is no darkness in the Light.

"When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." (John 8:12)

"This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:5-9)

Jesus is THE Healer...and He wants to heal you.

The Bible discloses only God as Healer. The Bible no where teaches us that anyone can command God to perform healings or miracles. We are his pupils, not His boss. We can use His Power, but never abuse it! (The God-given privilege of utilizing any Spirit-loaned gift is easily or abused and even violated). We are his ambassadors, but never His task-master.

Jesus is the healer:

a) "And the Lord will take away from you all sickness" (Deuteronomy 7:15)

b) "For I am the Lord who heals you" (Exodus 15:26)

c) "Bless the Lord all my soul, and forget not all His benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases..." (Psalm 103:2,3). Note - Notice the pattern hear: First He forgives our sins and second He heals all our diseases.

d) "And by His stripes you were healed " (1Peter 2:24).

e) "..He himself took our infirmities and bore our sicknesses" (Isa 53)

What did Jesus take on himself? He did not only bear our sins on the cross, but he bore the result of that sin as well -- sickness and disease. Just as with the gift of Salvation, it won't do you any good until you get to that place of being able to accept it personally in your life. So it is with our sicknesses and diseases on this earth (Jesus was our substitute - because we [Adam] separated us from God by sin [chose to follow Satan], we became slaves to Sin and Death [Satan]).

"The thief (Satan) does not come except to steal (What does he steal?), and to kill, and to destroy. I (Jesus) have come that they might have life, and that they may have it more abundantly" (John 10:10).

On the cross God bought back our rightful position with God which had been forfeited to Satan (We are not our own, we have been bought at a price).

He also bought made it possible for us to overcome the result of that sin (sickness, disease...etc, the fallen world). He bore our sickness and diseases at Calvary; that is how we can have life and life more abundantly.

However, Satan is still trying to steal from you the promises and provisions of God in the area of Good health here on earth. You can walk with God here on earth and be translated into the kingdom of God out of the sinful (fallen) word...Enoch walked with God and Enoch was no more (He was raptured). When we walk with God (God's abiding presence) there can be no darkness (sin and the results of sin) in our life (for with God there is no darkness only light and life).

f) "He sent His word and healed them" (Psalm 107:20). Jesus is the Word of God (John 1:1,1:14).

g) "...and as many as touched Him were made well" (Mark 6:56).

Who did they touch?

Consider the following:

"And wherever he went--into villages, towns or countryside--they placed the sick in the marketplaces. They begged him to let them touch even the edge of his cloak, and all who touched him were healed." (Mark 6:56)

"Just then a woman who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak. She said to herself, "If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed." Jesus turned and saw her. "Take heart, daughter," he said, "your faith has healed you." And the woman was healed from that moment". (Matt 9:20-22)

"She came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak, and immediately her bleeding stopped." (Luke 8:44)

What did the woman touch? She touched His "Prayer Shawl, His Talit". There are 47 referenced in the New Testament to the Jewish Talit. Sometimes it is called a garmet, a cloak, a vesture, a tent, a handkerchief, or a napkin. It is thought to be translated in these various ways because there is no single Greek word that describes the Hebrew Talit.

Jesus was a Rabbi and as a devout Jew wore a talit. It s made of white material and has a ribbon of blue along its border. Below each border are fringes. In each corner of the garment there is a large fringe called a tzizit. It has its origin in Numbers 15:38-41:

"Speak to the Israelites and say to them: 'Throughout the generations to come you are to make tassels on the corners of your garments, with a blue cord on each tassel. You will have these tassels to look at and so you will remember all the commands of the LORD, that you may obey them and not prostitute yourselves by going after the lusts of your own hearts and eyes. Then you will remember to obey all my commands and will be consecrated to your God. I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt to be your God. I am the LORD your God.'" (Num 15:38-41)

Although it is called a "garment" in verse 38, the modern Hebrew term for it is "talit". The word "fringe" is used to describe the modern Hebrew tzitzit. The tzitzit are unusual for on the tzitzit are several loops and knots.

The first series of loops appear like a hangman's noose wrapping around the cord representing the tenth letter of the Hebrew alphabet, "YODH". The second series of loops represents the fifth letter of the Hebrew alphabet, "HE". The third series of loops represents the sixth letter of the Hebrew alphabet, "VAV". The forth series of loops represents the Hebrew letter, "HAY".

These 4 Hebrew letters represent the ineffable unutterable name of God. Some say it is pronounced "YAHWEH", the King James translators called it Jehovah, however, some Jewish theologians say it is unutterable having no human pronunciation.

When the religious Jew prepares to pray, he adorns his talit, and he takes the fringes on the four corners-the tzitziot (plural), and wraps them together around his hand.

These represent all the laws God gave to Moses on top of Mount Sinai. ALL THE LOOPS AND KNOTS ADD UP TO 613, THE TOTAL NUMBER OF THE 613 LAWS.

SO WHAT DID SHE TOUCH? She touched the Law or the WORD of God. This is still one of the primary ways God heals today, through faith in His Word.

He sent His word and healed them, and Jesus and His Word are one.

"Fools because of their transgression, and because of their iniquities, are afflicted. Their soul abhorreth all manner of meat; and they draw near unto the gates of death. Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he saveth them out of their distresses. He sent his Word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions." (Psalm107: 17-20).

God and His Word are ONE.

But we can separate ourselves from God through sin. Healings require being in God's will.

What are the new "house rules"? Once we become believers, we no longer make our own rules and serve as our own boss, in stead we are under His law only, the Law of Love! Jesus reduced the exhausting laws of the Old Covenant:

"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" Jesus replied: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." (Matt 22:36)

"This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome" (1 John 5:2-3) By keeping His commands we demonstrate our love for Him.

Therefore when we request some kind of healing, our own will must become submissive to God's will. When we are aligned with God's will only then will the indwelling Holy Spirit of God honor a request for healing.

Is it God's will to heal a repentant child of God? Yes, as we discussed in the first lesson.

Jesus said: "...I am willing; be cleansed" (Matthew 8:3).

However, we can separate ourselves from God through sin. Healings require being in God's will.

There is much which can separate us from our God who wants to show us love and mercy in every area of our life. The following are a few areas which can prevent us from receiving a physical healing or whatever need that is promised in the bible.

1) Unconfessed sin (Ps 66:18)

2) Insincerity (Mat 6:5)

3) Carnal motives (Jam 4:3)

4) Unbelief (Jam 1:5-6)

5) Satanic activity (Dan 10:10-13)

6) Domestic Problems (1 Peter 3:7)

7) Pride (Luke 18:10-14)

8) Robbing God (Mal 3:8-10)

9) Refusing to submit to biblical teaching (Prov 1:24-28;28:9, Zech 7:11)

10) Refusing to forgive or to be forgiven (Matt 5:23-24;6:12,14)

11) Refusing to help the needy (Prov 21:3;1John 3:16-17)

12) Unclear conscience (1Joh 3:21-22)

13) Ununited with God (joh 15:7)

14) Disobedience (2 Chron 7:14)

15) Impatience (Heb 6:12, Ecc 3:1-3)

As we will learn in the days ahead, sin is a serious problem in the physical realm as well as in the spiritual realm. Sin opens a door which can lead to sickness.