A Christian’s Response to Sickness

1. A Christian’s Response to Sickness by Carl Johnson

2. Faith, Prayer & Doctors What is Faith? “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for, being convinced of what we do not see.” Heb. 11:1 NET Simply Put – Faith is having a confidence and trust in what you cannot see. According to Scripture “faith” is derived from God’s Word –“So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.” Rom. 10:17

3. Faith, Prayer & Doctors Faith has its Demand – “And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.” Heb. 11:6 Faith has its Design – “…for we walk by faith, not by sight…” 2 Cor. 5:7 In Heb. 4:2 we see the Dynamics of Faith. “For indeed we have had good news preached to us, just as they also; but the word they heard did not profit them, because it was not united by faith in those who heard.”

4. Faith, Prayer & Doctors Rom. 1:17 shows the Duty of Faith “For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "But the righteous man shall live by faith." How do we measure faith? “Then Jesus said to her, "O woman, your faith is great; it shall be done for you as you wish." And her daughter was healed at once.” Matt: 15:28

5. Faith, Prayer & Doctors Jesus did rebuke faithlessness. “Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, "Why could we not drive it out?" And He said to them, "Because of the littleness of your faith; for truly I say to you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you.” Matt. 17:19-20

6. Faith, Prayer & Doctors We must keep in mind God’s will is the controlling factor of what He will do for us and through us. What then are the requirements for true faith? 1) That we not depend on sight (2 Cor. 5:7) 2) That it be without doubting (James 1:5-8) 3) It believes God can do all things (Matt. 19:26) 4) That it be satisfied to let God’s will prevail (1 John 5:14)

7. Faith, Prayer & Doctors Then its not the amount of faith, but rather the person in whom that faith fully rests that defines great faith. The Role ofPrayer in Sickness • Admission – I can’t do it myself (John 15:4-5) • Submission – we are to submit our desires to our Sovereign Lord – his will done (Matt. 6:10) • Transmission – because we often do not know how to pray. God’s spirit intercepts our petition and interceded on our behalf (Rom. 8:26)

8. Faith, Prayer & Doctors 4) Intermission – waiting on God (Luke 18:1-8) 5) God’s Response – “yes” or “no” or “another way” God’s response to prayer in Scripture 1) God delivered immediately – Peter in prison 2) God detours – instead of allowing Christ to ascend to heaven before Calvary, he waited until after the son’s work on the cross. Christ reached his destination but by alternate route.

9. Faith, Prayer & Doctors 3) God delayed – child to Zacharias & Elizabeth 4) God will not hear – “If I regard wickedness in my heart, The Lord will not hear…” Ps. 66:18 What about Doctors and Medicine? “God can save a sinner without the use of any human aid, but certainly He does not usually do so. If God can use a man, with his consecrated wisdom, love and passion to win the lost, why should He not use a doctor, a pharmacist, or a nurse with their consecrated skills in healing the sick?”

10. Faith, Prayer & Doctors Support for doctors and medicine in scripture • Paul told Timothy to take a little wine for the sake of his stomach (1 Tim. 5:23). • Paul travelled extensively with Luke, the beloved physician. • Jesus recognized doctors and medicine as legitimate agents for healing. “But when Jesus heard this, He said, "It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick.” Matt. 9:12 Luke 10:30-37 – story of the Good Samaritan

11. Faith, Prayer & Doctors Strongest biblical evidence that God intended his followers to use medical means resides in the health aspects of the Mosaic law. 1) sanitation (Ex. 29:14, Deut. 23:12-14) 2) sterilization (Lev. 11:32,39-40, Num.19:11) 3) quarantine (Lev. 13:1-14:57, Num. 5:2-4) 4) hygiene & diet (Lev. 11:1-47)

12. Faith, Prayer & Doctors A Christian doctor put it: “We have no more reason to believe that our sicknesses and diseases will be cured without means than we have to believe that if we fail to plow and plant we will nevertheless be given food.”

13. Benefits from Suffering “I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear; But now my eye sees You; therefore I retract, And I repent in dust and ashes.“ Job 42:5-6 Those who spend their days looking heavenward frequently find that the Lord shows Himself in special ways that only the circumstances of sickness and suffering make possible.

14. Benefits from Suffering 1) Glorifies Christ – John 11:4 “But when Jesus heard this, He said, "This sickness is not to end in death, but for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified by it.“ 2) Promotes Spiritual Maturity – James 1:2-4 “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” 3) Displays Gods Workmanship – John 9:3 Jesus answered, "It was neither that this man sinned, nor his parents; but it was so that the works of God might be displayed in him.” 4) Fulfills God’s Will – 1 Peter 4:19 “Therefore, those also who suffer according to the will of God shall entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right.”

15. Benefits from Suffering 5) Secures our attention – Job 42:5-6 "I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear; But now my eye sees You; therefore I retract, And I repent in dust and ashes.“ 6) Heightens our Dependence – 2 Cor. 12: 7-10 “Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.” (verse 10) 7) Encourages Others – Heb. 11 Those in the faith chapter encourages believers.

16. Benefits from Suffering 8) Conforms us to Christ – Rom. 8:29-30 “For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren…” verse 29 9) Authenticates our faith – 1 Peter 1: 6-7 “In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ…”

17. Benefits from Suffering 10) Produces Endurance – Rom. 5:1-5 “And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance” (verse 3) 11) Chastens Sinning Christians – James 5:16 “Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.”

18. Benefits from Suffering 12) Provides Comfort for Others – 2 Cor. 1:3-4 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.” 13) Accomplishes God’s Unrevealed Purposes – "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways," declares the Lord. "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways And My thoughts than your thoughts.” Is. 55:8-9

19. When Sickness or Suffering Comes • Acknowledge that God sovereignly rules life and rest in that unshakeable truth. God controls our every moment, whether in sickness or health. (Deut. 32:39) • Remind yourself of the biblical reasons for sickness. Think about those purposes which God can accomplish through your time of illness. Pray that God will use you in weakness to display His strength. • Determine if your sickness is resulting from continued sin in your life. Is God using illness as a chastisement? If so confess your sin – it could be that calling of the Elders is necessary – James 5

20. When Sickness or Suffering Comes 4) Commit the entire matter to the Lord by faith. Pray for God’s will to be done, seek his glory, and wait patiently for His purpose. 5) Seek the help of the health-care professionals. Never disregard or ignore God’s normal means of restoring health through medical experts. 6) Recognize that it may not be God’s will for you to fully recover. 7)Thank God for the circumstances in which He has placed you. (1 Thess. 5:18) Remember you are not thanking Him that you hurt, but rather that He is who He is and that He will work His will through your circumstances.

21. When Sickness or Suffering Comes 8) As you pray ask God for the faith and patience to endure and to trust in Him. 9) Pray that your circumstances would bring glory to God. (1 Cor. 10:31)

22. What is Christ’s Healing Promise to Us? “…and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed. For you were continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls.” 1 Peter 2: 24-25