Hi brother Bon!
I recently watched your shared video about God does not always want to heal us. I have also watched some preaching that says the Lord Jesus always wanted to heal us and that it is always His will to heal us from our sickness. They are quoting Isaiah 53:5 that says “by His stripes we are healed” to support this teaching. Some even said that it is already our fault if we are not healed because for them, it means that we lacked faith because healing is already given and is available for us.
I’m confused. Because not everyone actually receives healing. Does this mean that it is also God’s will for us to be sick? What can you say about this?
God bless.
Hi, thank you for your message.
In my 34 years of existence in this planet, there are two things I know about our Lord Jesus Christ that I am very sure of. First is that He heals. Second is that He doesn’t.
Not sure if it helps you but this made me smile and this is actually the truth.
I can get why you feel confused because those kinds of preaching will really make anyone confused. Think about this: If it is the will of God to always heal His children from every sickness, then there should be no more deaths upon the children of God. We should never die. And that will be pure nonsense because that is not actually the case. These kinds of preaching have no difference with those of prosperity gospel which teach that God always wanted us to be rich.
This is what I believe concerning healing and I hope you will pay attention to this:
Romans 8:28-29 tells us these:
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love God, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.”
Take note of those phrases I have highlighted. According to these verses, to those foreknown by God, He also predestined them to conform to the likeness of His Son. It is God’s desire that they will conform to the likeness of His Son. This is the reason why to these people, ALL THINGS in their lives are working together so that God will achieved His purposed for them. Their lives will not all be sunshine. There will be times of rain, storm or hail just so God can conform their characters to that of His Son. So yes, God will use problems, loss of love ones, sickness and diseases to do this conforming.
I do not agree that the Lord always wanted you to be healed. His greater purpose to conform us to His Son is always His main priority. So if it needs for you not to be healed from your sickness just so God can fulfill His plan for you, He will definitely not heal you from that sickness. Having said this, the other way around is also true. If that sickness or disease is a hindrance for His purpose to be fulfilled in you, He will definitely heal you from it.
In the Bible, there are actually many examples of God’s people suffering from sickness:
1. Paul – Gal. 4:13 “You know that it was because of an illness that I first preached the gospel to you.”
You read it right. The Apostle Paul whom God had used to heal many was actually suffering from an illness that God hasn’t healed. And he explained above that it was because of that illness that he had preached the Gospel to the Galatians. Perhaps if he had not gotten that illness, he would not have preached the Gospel to them. Sometimes, we need to get sick to be used by God.
2. Timothy – 1 Tim. 5:23 “Stop drinking only water, and use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses.”
Are you sick? Well, Timothy suffered from frequent stomach illness. Again, when this is addressed by Paul, he doesn’t say “Timothy, you are of little faith! God has already healed you! You just have to believe and it will go away!” Paul did not say that. Paul knew that God has a greater purpose for Timothy and his stomach illness plays a great role for it.
Other examples in the Bible are Tropimus (2 Tim 4:20) and Epaphroditus (Phil 2:25-30). These are the sick people whom God use mightily. And other believers did not tell them that they lacked faith because they were not healed from their illness. Unfortunately, because of all the fake faith-prosperity around, there is much confusion on this subject among the believers.
In closing, I need you to remember that one day, there will come a time when we will have our glorified body and sickness and illnesses will have no power in it. And on that day, He will make all things new. There will be new Heaven and a new Earth and “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the first order of things has passed away (Rev 21:4).” Until then, we live in a body and a world that is groaning and is getting sick. But praise God! Our Heavenly Father always looks after us in this life and we have a wonderful hope and promise for the life to come!
Be bless!
Bon
