Correspondence: Healing; Ps. 23:4; Birth, Conversion, Chastening; Matt. 25:32

From: Correspondence

From: Young Christian: Volume 2, 1912

• 5 min. read • grade level: 7

Ques. 36. What are we to expect as to divine healing? M. T. C.

Ans. "As for God His way is perfect." Psa. 18:30³⁰As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the Lord is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him. (Psalm 18:30).

God's power and love and wisdom are perfect. He can make no mistakes.

There is nothing too small or too great to bring to the Lord; there is nothing but what His power can accomplish for us if He sees it is for our good. This ought to work in us full submission to His will, enabling us to trust Him where we do not understand what He is doing with us.

Miracles are called "the powers of the world to come." (Heb. 6:5⁵And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, (Hebrews 6:5).) When the Lord comes in glory with His saints, then He will use that power to set right His ruined Kingdom. The same power He will use to change our bodies when He comes for His saints. (Phil. 3:21²¹Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself. (Philippians 3:21).)

We often see the Lord's hand working for the good of His people now, in care and protection and healing, but without any seeming miracle.

If we saw any one working miracles, (Mark 9:38-40³⁸And John answered him, saying, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name, and he followeth not us: and we forbad him, because he followeth not us. ³⁹But Jesus said, Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my name, that can lightly speak evil of me. ⁴⁰For he that is not against us is on our part. (Mark 9:38‑40)) we can leave them to the Lord as His servants; to Him they stand or fall. The Lord can do as He pleases, it is for us to seek the path of obedience. The Scriptures you refer to do not lead us to think that every believer can work miracles; or to think that no believer should be sick. 1 Cor. 12, refers to spiritual manifestations, but does not say that these gifts were to continue; whereas Eph. 4:11-13¹¹And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; ¹²For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: ¹³Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: (Ephesians 4:11‑13) distinctly tells us what gifts will continue till the body of Christ is completed; no sign gifts are mentioned to continue.

The Corinthians had these sign gifts, but their behavior was such the apostle had to reprove them; they were "babes" and "carnal," no marks of spirituality about them, but the opposite. In Ephesians, Colossians, Philippians, etc., higher teaching is given, showing a better state.

2 Cor. 12:7⁷And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. (2 Corinthians 12:7); tells of something the Lord sent to Paul to keep him humble. It was needed, so it was not removed, but Paul gloried in the power of Christ resting on him through it.

Phil. 2:25-30²⁵Yet I supposed it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, and companion in labor, and fellowsoldier, but your messenger, and he that ministered to my wants. ²⁶For he longed after you all, and was full of heaviness, because that ye had heard that he had been sick. ²⁷For indeed he was sick nigh unto death: but God had mercy on him; and not on him only, but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. ²⁸I sent him therefore the more carefully, that, when ye see him again, ye may rejoice, and that I may be the less sorrowful. ²⁹Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness; and hold such in reputation: ³⁰Because for the work of Christ he was nigh unto death, not regarding his life, to supply your lack of service toward me. (Philippians 2:25‑30). Epaphroditus was sick nigh unto death in the Lord's service, and was not cured miraculously, but the Lord had mercy on him with no obvious miracle.

2 Tim. 4:20²⁰Erastus abode at Corinth: but Trophimus have I left at Miletum sick. (2 Timothy 4:20). "Trophimus have I left at Miletum sick." Here again the apostle did not interfere with the Lord's discipline over His servant.

1 Tim. 5:23²³Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach's sake and thine often infirmities. (1 Timothy 5:23). Timothy is told to "Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach's sake and for thine often illnesses" (N. T.) He does not direct him, to divine healing, so-called, but leaves him as he was, only giving him advice to use what might alleviate his trouble, showing us that we are free to use what we may think good and to count on the Lord blessing it. (1 Tim. 4:4⁴For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving: (1 Timothy 4:4).)

Heb. 2:3, 4³How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; ⁴God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will? (Hebrews 2:3‑4). The object of the sign gifts was to confirm the word before unbelievers, "God bearing them witness." Mark 16:17, 18¹⁷And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; ¹⁸They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. (Mark 16:17‑18) is in the same line, also Mark 16:20²⁰And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen. (Mark 16:20), "the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following." Thus we see what was predicted, was fulfilled.

At the close of this period of grace, signs will again appear; (2 Thess, 2:7-10) powers and signs and lying wonders. We see the mystery of iniquity already working. When people turn from the Lord and His truth, they turn to Satan and to fables. (John 5:43⁴³I am come in my Father's name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive. (John 5:43); 2 Tim. 4:3³For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; (2 Timothy 4:3)). Already we see the signs coming in, and Satan working wonders, but, alas! the truth is given up. On the other hand, in all ages, sick believers have looked to the Lord, and when He saw it fit, they have been healed.

The Epistle of James is addressed to the twelve tribes of Israel, and its subject is practical righteousness, and. is therefore of general application: our special relation as children of God, members of the body of Christ, and temples of the Holy Ghost must he borne in mind. James 5:14-16¹⁴Is 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: ¹⁵And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. ¹⁶Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. (James 5:14‑16), is specially connected with the Lord's discipline, and forgiveness of sins committed is here given through confession. It would not therefore apply to every case of sickness.

1 John 5:16, 17¹⁶If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it. ¹⁷All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death. (1 John 5:16‑17) is discerning why God's chastening hand is on a brother, whether his sin is unto death, (the death of the body). It is not some special sin, but what a brother may have fallen into by allowing careless, or gross habits-a warning to us all to be diligent to "watch and pray." (2 Peter 1:9⁹But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. (2 Peter 1:9).) It has nothing to do with such scriptures as Mark 3:29²⁹But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation: (Mark 3:29).

1 Cor. 11:30-32³⁰For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. ³¹For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. ³²But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world. (1 Corinthians 11:30‑32) is the chastening of the Lord on some who did not discern the Lord's body in the supper. These were believers, but were not walking right and some were weak and sickly while others died. They were "chastened of the Lord," but not "condemned with the world.”

When the Lord raised, or healed any one, it was done at once, not gradually; except the instances of the blind man in Mark 8:22-25²²And he cometh to Bethsaida; and they bring a blind man unto him, and besought him to touch him. ²³And he took the blind man by the hand, and led him out of the town; and when he had spit on his eyes, and put his hands upon him, he asked him if he saw ought. ²⁴And he looked up, and said, I see men as trees, walking. ²⁵After that he put his hands again upon his eyes, and made him look up: and he was restored, and saw every man clearly. (Mark 8:22‑25) and in John 9, which are pictures of the education of the soul in the things of God. Gradually the light of Christianity displaced the darkness of Judaism. It impoverished the soul for believers to get taken up with temporal blessings or mercies. We thank God for them all, but our blessings are spiritual and heavenly and eternal. "Blessed with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ." Eph. 1:3³Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: (Ephesians 1:3). (To be continued)

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