If you recall, in (part 1) we covered on how to differentiate between heresy and sound doctrine. In (part 2) we explored where the Word of Faith movement came from. Here in (part 3), I would like to explore the biblical view of faith and healing. This may be a little long, but I promise it will not be boring!
Before we get too far down the road, let me give you something to ponder. If you recall Kenyon received the revelation in 1934. Then it was Kenneth Hagin who was really responsible for propagating it in the 1970s and 1980s. Hagin believed that it’s God’s will for all believers to always be in good health, financially successful, and happy. So then, this revelation/teaching has only come into fruition in the last 60 years or so. I thought how sad, the 1st century church could have saved themselves so much misery. Poor Apostle Paul didn’t get a chance to write another letter to the churches about this “new good news” before his death. Hence, all the saints that went on before us missed out on this special revelation. Isn’t that just sad? (Sarcasm)
Let’s take a closer look at the biblical view of faith. Most Christians know that Hebrews 11 is often referred to as “The Hall of faith”. The writer of Hebrews lays out all the great exploits of those who had faith (Abraham, Jacob, Joeseph, Moses, Israel at Jericho, Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, all the Prophets). I love sermons on In Heb 11:33-34 (KJV) “Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions. Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.”
Praise God! Yes! That’s what I’m talking about! Keep preaching it, Pastor! Turn to your neighbor and say, “now that’s some good preaching!” Yes, have faith! Say out loud, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me! Put me in coach! Sign me up! I know, right? Okay, okay, but wait, let’s read the rest of the chapter. After that Ya’ll can come to the alter and ask God to help make you a man or a woman of faith.
“… There were others who were tortured, refusing to be released so that they might gain an even better resurrection. Some faced jeers and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were put to death by stoning; they were sawed in two; they were killed by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated— the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, living in caves and in holes in the ground. These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised.” Heb 11:35 (b) -39 Bold, mine.
Note, the same faith that can shut the mouths of lions is the same faith that can give you the grace to be sawn in two without denying the Lord. I think it’s summed up perfectly in Daniel 18:16-18,
“Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.” (Bold, mine)
Notice how these 3 Hebrew teens left the end result up to God! The only thing they “decreed” or “declared”, was their faith in GOD!
(Okay, I know this is getting a bit long, but please indulge me a bit more.)
The Word of Faith crowd will often proclaim (no pun intended) that if you have faith, you can move mountains.
Mark 11:23 (NLT) ” I tell you the truth, you can say to this mountain, ‘May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and it will happen. But you must really believe it will happen and have no doubt in your heart.
And in John 14:14 we read, ” You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.”
Well, there ya go, Joel. You’ve just proven their point. Yes, but wait. There’s another verse that you may want to consider. I John 5:14-15 (KJV),
“And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.” (bold mine)
So, would it not be prudent to make sure it’s His will before you start casting mountains into the sea? Sometimes God will put mountains (metaphorically speaking) in front of you because, he doesn’t want you to go in that direction, or he may want you to climb it to build up your resistance. Are we wiser than God on knowing what’s best for us? (read God’s response to Job) Why not use your faith to, I don’t know…to trust him?
Let’s now move on to “divine” health. The Word of Faith crowd will tell you that you, as a child of God, shouldn’t ever be sick. And if you are sick there’s something wrong with your faith.
We know that all the malaise upon the earth is the result of the Fall. Although our soul has been redeemed and our relationship to the Father is restored because of the work of Christ, our bodies are not. These bodies of ours will go into the ground and decay (I Cor 15:20). Moreover, this fallen earth with all its evil, sin, and sickness has not been restored as yet either.
Revelation 16:17-21, “The earth is groaning, as it awaits it Creator to return to liberate the entire creation from its bondage. As the earth continues to groan from within, we can expect more earthquakes to increase in frequency and intensity, as Jesus said they would.”
Without going into too many scriptures here, I think we can all agree that sickness and disease is not from God. In addition, we can agree with what Jesus said to his disciples in Mark 16:18, “they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.” We should pray for the sick. You can read in the book of Acts about the many times the sick were healed. One extraordinary account is found in Acts 19:11-12, “And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul: So that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them.”
However, I can’t find anywhere in the Bible where it says that Christians cannot get sick, or if they do, they are to deny that they are and need to “proclaim” good health! The Bible does instruct us that if we become sick, to call for the elders of the church to pray over us and anoint us with oil. “Are any of you sick? You should call for the elders of the church to come and pray over you, anointing you with oil in the name of the Lord. Such a prayer offered in faith will heal the sick, and the Lord will make you well. And if you have committed any sins, you will be forgiven.” James 5:14-15 NLT
Moreover, did this same Apostle Paul, as the one just cited above, leave someone in a condition of sickness? 2 Tim 4:20, “Erastus remained at Corinth, and I left Trophimus, who was ill, at Miletus.” Why? I don’t know. Did Trophimus not have enough faith? Was Paul having an “off” day? Did God have his reasons for not healing him? Again, I don’t know. Maybe it was because brother Hagin was not born as yet to teach them the “Word of Faith”? But I can guide you to read about King Hezekiah found in 2 Kings 20 to perhaps gain an alternative perspective. Time does not permit me to do a deep dive into the chapter, but I’ll give you the abridged version.
Basically, he was a good King (sometimes). One of only two. He got deathly ill. Isaiah told him to get his affairs in order because this illness was going to kill him. But Hezekiah prayed and cried out for God to heal him. He was heard and God said that he would add 15 more years to his life. But during these added years Hezekiah made a very crucial mistake. Because of his error in judgement, Isaiah told him some very bad news. 2 Kings 20:16-20 (NLT)
“Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, “Listen to this message from the Lord: The time is coming when everything in your palace—all the treasures stored up by your ancestors until now—will be carried off to Babylon. Nothing will be left, says the Lord. Some of your very own sons will be taken away into exile. They will become eunuchs who will serve in the palace of Babylon’s king.” Then Hezekiah said to Isaiah, “This message you have given me from the Lord is good.” For the king was thinking, “At least there will be peace and security during my lifetime.”
“O’ thank you Isaiah! This is a great word!” (sarcasm) I guess you could say that at least Hezekiah kept a “positive” mind set, right? At least while he was alive everything was going to be alright! So, what if his family would suffer and the kingdom will fall because of his bad decision. Question: would it maybe have been better not to have prayed for an extended life? Point being, God knows what he’s doing and why. Be careful what you pray for, you may get just what you want!
(In Part 4, the last part, we’ll cover if God wants us to be wealthy and happy).