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Although this book is not a treatise on divine healing for the body,
still God's promises do cover this physical need the same as they
cover all other needs in this life. If we are definitely Christ's
through salvation from sin, through the atonement of Calvary, we are
then His in a two-fold sense. 1, Through creation we are God's; we
belong to Him in a definite way, for He made us. 2, After the fall
of man in the garden of Eden, God put into action His great plan for
the Eternal redemption of mankind, and thus purchased 'is back
through the great sacrifice of His Only Son. So according to 1
Corinthians 6:19-20, we belong to God both soul and body. Here Paul
said, "What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy
Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God and ye are not your own?
For ye are bought with a price: therefore, glorify God in your body,
and in your spirit, which are God's." Yes, we are bought with a
great price--bought with the precious blood of Christ. "For as much
as ye know that ye are not redeemed with corruptible things as
silver and gold--but with the precious blood of Christ." 1 Peter
18-19.
God's plan of redemption covers a complete work--a full restoration.
The soul is restored into a relationship with the Father as soon as
the individual definitely accepts the divine plan of God for his
salvation. He then becomes a partaker spiritually of the divine
nature. Read 2 Peter 1:3-4. Then, thank God, as long as we walk in
the light of His Word, we are kept in His likeness. Praise God
forever for His marvelous plan. Our eternal redemption is then for
us sure--just as long as we live in definite obedience to all the
light we have on His Holy Word.
And although our physical redemption is not yet complete, and will
not be until "the last enemy (death) is destroyed," and "this mortal
shall have put on immortality," still God has not forgotten our
physical needs and He has planned to care for these mortal bodies
(which have, through His plan, become the temple of the Holy Spirit)
UNTIL the glorious triumph of the final resurrection. Yes, He has
planned to care for the bodies of His children by stretching forth
His hand of power to heal their bodily afflictions. His Holy Word is
full of definite promises for His children. He first made known this
part of His plan when He declared to the Israelites, "I am the Lord
that healeth thee." Exodus 15:26. And thank the Lord, from that day
to this he has healed those who live for Him, and trust in His Work
of promise. Divine healing for the body is a sort of forerunner of
immortality. The "will" of God in this respect is well expressed in
the desire of the beloved Apostle John when he said, "Beloved, I
wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health,
even as thy soul prospereth." 3 John 2. I am aware that the blessed
doctrine of divine healing for the body has been ignored by many
but, "What if some do not believe? Shall their unbelief make the
promises of God without effect?" (for those who do believe). What
people believe or do not believe does not settle the great facts of
TRUTH, but it is what the Word says on the subject.
God was the healer of His children, the Israelites; and the Prophets
of old predicted a special manifestation of His healing power when
Christ should come. The Prophet Isaiah speaking of the coming of the
Lord said, "He would be a light to the Gentiles" and that he should
"open the eyes of the blind." Isaiah 42:7. Christ, preaching in the
synagogue of Nazareth said, "This day is this scripture fulfilled in
your ears" Luke 4:18-21. Again in Isaiah 35:4-6 we read, "Say to
them that are of a fearful heart—be strong, fear not; behold your
God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompense; He will
come and save you. THEN the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and
the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. THEN shall the lame man
leap as an hart and the tongue of the dumb shall sing." Isaiah
35:4-6. The Prophet Malachi also predicted the healing work of
Christ, "but unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of
Righteousness arise with healing in His wings." Malachi 4:2. Thank
God, all these were fulfilled in the coming of Christ and, "He is
just the same today." Hebrews 13:8. It is only for us to refuse to
give any place to doubts and unbelief, and to stand firmly on His
Word of Promise, remembering always that these bodies of ours (if we
are redeemed) ARE THE TEMPLES OF THE HOLY GHOST and He surely will
care for His own.
What are needed today are men and women who are decided in their
hearts to lift up God's standard of Divine Truth for His own glory.
Paul said in Hebrews 11:6, "But without faith it is impossible to
please God, for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and
that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him." What a
message of Truth these few words bring to our hearts. Yes, we cannot
get anything from God, in answer to prayer, UNLESS we definitely
believe—FIRST--that He is--that He exists, and then more than that,
we must believe that if we diligently seek ANYTHING from Him, (in
faith) He will give it to us. Without this faith, it is impossible
to PLEASE GOD--so knowing this, how diligently we should seek an
increase of faith, so our lives may please Him. Let us be strong in
the faith that was once delivered to the saints. If you are a
minister of the gospel of Christ, one very definite part of your
commission is to be able to pray the prayer of faith for the healing
of the sick. And if you are just a believer--just a little member in
the body of Christ (which IS His church) still Jesus has said to
you, "These signs shall follow them that believe," and also He said,
"believers shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover."
Mark 16:18.
In this day of Communism, of Atheism, and of unbelief, God's
children everywhere need to arise and shake themselves, and step
forward as never before, determined that the world shall see the
church shining forth in all her beauty and glory just as in the
morning time, with mighty signs and wonders following the preaching
of the Word, and the labors of His present day disciples. Then and
then only will the world around us look on and believe, and be
brought to the cross for salvation. The conversion of thousands
followed the healings and other demonstrations of God's power
working among His people in the morning time church, and the same
results would follow today, if we were a clear demonstration of the
same mighty working power. Jesus said, "and I, if I be lifted up
(through Godly lives, and through signs following) will draw all men
unto me." Then why so much unbelief in the world today? Because the
signs are not following in many places as they should be in a normal
church of God. Let us awaken and live it, and preach it, and see the
results.
How Can We Have the Faith?
Paul said, after a long life of rich experiences with the Lord,
"faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God" Romans
10:17. Yes, hearing the preaching of the Word on these lines will
edify and build up our faith. And a personal study of God's promises
on the subject of faith or of His dealings with His faithful
children in ages past, coupled with a careful study of His promises
for the present and the future will build up our faith and bring it
to a point of activity. Passive faith brings but little to the life
of man, but a definite, active, living faith moving out on the
promises of God and taking from Him by FAITH just what He has
promised to us brings the needed help on any line, and also builds
us up for greater ventures of faith in the future.
If one desires to "live a life of faith," desires to be used of God
as a channel of blessing to others, it is absolutely necessary to
have a humble heart, free from all pride--for God knoweth the proud
afar off. It is necessary to have a daily walk with God in obedience
to His Word and Will for us. The WRITTEN WORD of God is a clear
expression of His divine WILL or PLAN for the life of ALL His
children. A careful study of His Word with a sincere desire to know
His full will for us, so that plan may be lived right out in our
daily lives, brings us on "praying ground" where our faith can then
take hold of His promises of God and make them real in our lives.
Praying the effectual prayer of the righteous--brings the answer.
Also, aside from God's universal or general plan for all His
children, as set forth in His Word (as a lamp to our feet, and a
guide to our pathway) He has also His own plan for each individual
life in our service to Him, and this will all be clearly made known
to us, if we commit all our ways unto Him, and give Him the
privilege of directing our lives. Proverbs 3:5-6. The wonderful
promises of God are for those who love and obey Him, and let Him
have His own way in their lives. In John 15:7, we read, "If ye abide
in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it
shall be done unto you." Praise God for such a mighty promise. Ask
what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. This promise covers not
only the healing of the body, but also the supply of all our
material needs, and all our spiritual needs. But this promise is
conditional—"If ye abide in me (a settled, steadfast Christian
life), and if my Words abide in you (a life lived in harmony to the
whole word of God)
THEN—THEN--ask, and receive. Praise the Lord. This scripture lays
down the full condition, and the promise covers our every need in
life. Then let us see to it that our lives are up to the full
standard of Truth and then let us exercise ourselves in a deep
prayer life, and the joy of answered prayer may be our daily
portion. To live a life of faith we must have a heart free from all
pride, and be clothed with humility; to live a life of faith we must
be definitely separated from the world and separated unto the LORD;
to see the results of faith in our lives, we must so live that it is
easy to touch the throne of God, and bring the answer down. THERE IS
A PRICE TO PAY if we want to be able to bless the world by the
effectual prayer of the righteous being fruitful in our own lives.
Let us not "play" Christian--but let us settle down in Him, take Him
at His Word, and then, and then only can the world around us be
blessed by Christ in His Power having been lifted up--and sinners
will be drawn to the cross. When Jesus was on earth, and following
His ministry, while the early morning church was shining out in her
beauty and glory, multitudes of men and women were added to the
Church, through the powerful demonstrations of God's power working
among them. It should and would be the same today, if only the
redeemed of the Lord would so live that the "signs and wonders"
would follow the ministry of the Word. This brings a great
responsibility on each child of God. Let us arise, and go forth in
His name, proving to the non-Christian world around us that Jesus
still lives today—in His People, and that "He is the very
same--yesterday, today and forever."
Most of the world is still lost and in darkness--WHY?--because
Jesus, The Christ of God, The Saviour from all sin, the healer of
all sicknesses, the Friend of mankind, the supplier of our
needs—Jesus--The Son of God--has not been lifted up. He has been
over-shadowed by a great cloud of unbelief, and doubts and fears. A
formal religion will not draw men-- cold profession will not draw
men--programs and entertainment will not draw men--but a good, clear
demonstration of WHAT CHRIST is, and what He WILL be to those who
trust Him, WILL draw men unto Him. Brother--sister—"What is that
thou hast in thy hand?" Exodus 4:2. The powerful gospel of the Son
of God. This is what men need, and want--let us go forth without
fear, giving them what we have received. "Freely ye have received,
freely give." Jesus said, "Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise
the dead, cast out devils; freely ye have received, freely give."
Matthew 10:8. God bless every reader. Amen.
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