Good day, I hope this finds you well and blessed. Today's topic may not sit well, but the truth is sometimes offensive. Please know that I personally am not trying to offend anyone, nor make light of anything going on in one's life. I will not spend a lot of time with formalities this morning. As we (the church) need to wake up, step up, and tell the truth about things. So let's get started.
Let's talk about salvation, healing, and deliverance, and how we have been deceived. I will start with a few questions. What do you believe salvation means? Do you think that God still heals? What are your thoughts on deliverance? What are your thoughts on spiritual warfare? What does it mean to be oppressed and/or possessed? I think that many people may have questions concerning these things, and I am hoping to help in some way.
We will start with salvation, what many preach and believe, versus what the bible says. Isaiah 53 says that when Jesus was crucified and resurrected, he accomplished these things. 1) He took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows. 2) he was pierced for our transgressions and crushed for our iniquities; he bore the punishment that should have been ours so that we may have peace. 3) and by his stripes we are healed. Please note that number 3 does not leave room for question, as many believe. It concerns me that so many get stuck on that one. Now let's go back to verse 1 of Isaiah 53, "Who has believed our report and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed." I can tell you there is one who believes it, that knows it to be true, and he is the same one who doesn't want you to believe it. Since the Devil knows that salvation includes healing and deliverance, he wants nothing more than to have you believe differently. He wants you to think that salvation means you will go to heaven after suffering through life and dying. He surely does not want you to know that the kingdom of God is within you, that you are forgiven, healed, and delivered. He does not want you to believe that salvation is for now, while you are living, because if you knew this, then you would be walking in the victory that Jesus died for. I hope this makes sense and touches some hearts.
I often hear people say if it is God's will, then he will heal. There again, misled. How dare I say this? 1 Timothy 2:4 says this: "who (God) desires all men to be saved and come to the knowledge of truth." Amen. Now pair that with Isaiah 53, the definition of salvation. This would make it God's will that all men be healed and delivered. It is my understanding that the Greek word for salvation is sozo. If you would like to look that up, you may find the definition interesting.
Now what about eternal life? My bible tells me that eternal life is this: "that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent." So when we know God and his word and live by them, we are no longer ruled by a fallen world but now have a solid foundation. One could look at it this way: "We are no longer conformed to this world, but have been born again and are now citizens of a glorious land where we are ruled by God. To live by God's word is not only the "do not's", there are many things that we should do that are of great benefit to us. God brings health and healing, counsel and comfort, through his word. Of course, the Devil would want you to believe that the benefits of salvation are for after you die.
John 10:10 Does the devil not come to steal, kill, and destroy?. John 8:4 The devil is a liar, a deceiver; he can tell no truth because there is no truth in him. We, the church, have to start calling out the enemy. We have to recognize and deal with the lies of the devil for what they really are. From mental health to physical health, chaos and destruction, oppression and possessions, these are all lies of the devil, but the world we live in tells us that it knows the cause and has the cure. The world will tell us that, based on circumstances, family history, etc., these things should be expected, and as long as we conform to this world, we will most likely see these things come to fruition.
Let's look at some biblical examples of how Jesus dealt with sickness and disease. I hope you will see that everyone saved by Jesus was healed and delivered.
Mark 5: (Mental Health)
"They (Jesus and his disciples) went across the lake to the region of the Gerasenes. When Jesus got out of the boat, a man with an impure spirit came from the tombs to meet him. This man lived in the tombs, and no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain. For he had often been chained hand and foot, but he tore the chains apart and broke the irons on his feet. No one was strong enough to subdue him. Night and day among the tombs and in the hills, he would cry out and cut himself with stones." Self-harm, mental illness. How did Jesus deal with this: "Come out of him, you evil spirit." He did not send him to a doctor to be medicated or to counseling to talk about it. He cast that spirit out. Please note that I am not making light of any situation; I am only telling you that is how Jesus dealt with this.
Mark 9:17-27 (Siezures)
"A man in the crowd answered, "Teacher, I brought you my son, who is possessed by a spirit that has robbed him of speech. Whenever it seizes him, it throws him to the ground. He foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth, and becomes rigid." There again, Jesus dealt with this in this manner, "you deaf and mute spirit, come out of him and never enter him again."
Luke 13:10-12(infirmities)
On a Sabbath, Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues, and a woman was there who had been crippled by a spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not straighten up at all. When Jesus saw her, he called her forward and said to her, "Woman, you are set free from your infirmity." Then he put his hands on her, and immediately she straightened up and praised God.
Please also read Mark 5:21-29 (raising the dead and healing the sick)
This is the point I am trying to make. We let the Devil get away with too much; instead of calling him out, we sweep his lies and deceptions under the rug, usually calling it theology when in reality it is a doctrine of demons. We claim that sickness and disease are normal and that the doctors and their medications will take care of them (Note: I am not against doctors, but rather the lies of the Devil). We linger in unforgiveness and then give it a name other than what it really is. We do not resist the Devil; we pamper him and make him feel at home.
The fact is that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Meaning he still does the things that he did then, today. The power and authority of God's word is the same today as it was then. But there again, through watered-down and wrong teaching, the word of God has become of no effect in our lives. (Mark 7:13).
In closing, I leave you with this. Every example in the New Testament of salvation is healing and deliverance. I cannot find anywhere that says differently. We, as followers of Jesus, are told to heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, and drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give. But wait, I hear a conflict rising, "but he was talking to the first disciples." Yes, he was, but are we not disciples? A disciple is a follower and student of Jesus.
I hope that this has encouraged you as much as it has me. Much peace and love to you.
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