Commentary By Jarrett L. Perdue Sr.
Health and Healing is a very important subject matter in the Body of Christ. Born Again Believers - Followers of Christ, should have a scriptural and medical understanding what health and healing is defined as from the Word of God and the Medical Profession. It is very important to understand that health and healing is a process.
There are Christians that believe they are able to pray and be healed without any medical attention. The Bible states in Matthew 9:29 (KJV) "....According to your faith be it unto you." The Amplified Bible states: "...According to your faith and trust and reliance [on the power invested in Me] be it done to you;"
Our level of faith is personal and what we believe will happen for us in our requests with daily dialogue and daily relationship with our Heavenly Father.
The purpose of this commentary is to give an analysis concerning our spiritual and medical understanding about health and healing concerning the Christian lifestyle.
MEDICAL
HEALTH - defined by The World Health Organization, which is a specialized agency of the United States (UN) that acts as a coordinating authority on international public health. Definition: "A state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being, not merely the absence of disease or infirmity."
HEALING - "The act or process of curing or of restoring to health. The process of getting well." “Physiological healing is the restoration of damaged living tissue to normal function. It is the process by which the cells in the body regenerate and repair to reduce the size of a damaged area. Healing incorporates both the removal of tissue, and the replacement of this tissue.”
SCRIPTURAL
HEALTH - In areas of the Old Testament, health in Hebrew is shalowm (shä·lōm'), completeness, safety, soundness (in body), peace, assurance. This is found in Genesis 43:28 (KJV). In III John 1:2 (KJV), the Greek word for health is hygiainō (hü-gē-ī'-nō ), to be sound, to be well, to be in good health.
HEALING - In the scriptures in Malachi 4:2 (KJV), healing in Hebrew is marpe' (mar·pā') - health, healing, cure.
The Lord Jesus healed all manner of sickness & diseases everywhere He went. (Matthew 9:35 (KJV). Luke 9:6 (KJV). Healing in Greek is therapeuō (the-rä-pyü'-ō) - to heal, cure, restore to health. This is where we get our English word, therapy.
The Lord Jesus healed all manner of sickness & diseases everywhere He went. (Matthew 9:35 (KJV). Luke 9:6 (KJV). Healing in Greek is therapeuō (the-rä-pyü'-ō) - to heal, cure, restore to health. This is where we get our English word, therapy.
DIFFERENT VIEWPOINTS
Some Believers have the concept that when health and healing is mentioned, it is something magical, mystical and esoteric. In Christianity, there are groups that accept health and healing as part of their daily walk with God. Others, state health nor healing is promised to everyone. There are writings and expositions that health and healing for everyday living is not real or practical. There are writings and expositions that every Believer should experience health and healing.
Some of the writings will use the translation of Greek to English to validate their idea that health and healing for the Believer is just an emotional hype and really has no substance to reality. Others will use the translations and believe that the only thing Followers Of Christ have to do is verbally say some words and health and healing is automatic. When dealing with the subject of health and healing, it can become a very controversial matter. This is why it is so important to study, pray, have a scriptural understanding of God’s Word, and make the application in our own lives. We should make daily practice of God’s Knowledge communicated to us in His Word.
Some of the writings will use the translation of Greek to English to validate their idea that health and healing for the Believer is just an emotional hype and really has no substance to reality. Others will use the translations and believe that the only thing Followers Of Christ have to do is verbally say some words and health and healing is automatic. When dealing with the subject of health and healing, it can become a very controversial matter. This is why it is so important to study, pray, have a scriptural understanding of God’s Word, and make the application in our own lives. We should make daily practice of God’s Knowledge communicated to us in His Word.
HYPE, MIRACLE PRODUCTS, FAITH HEALERS
Receiving health and healing is not about a hype, i.e. excessive publicity where someone says some words over people, lay hands on them, gives them a so called "miracle product" and the result is they are completely healed in their bodies of all sickness. There is no such item as a "miracle product". These sects in the Christian Community make these exaggerated and false claims that they have a "healing ministry" and can speak healing in the lives of others and they have testimonies to prove so.
People who make those healing claims use the weakness and emotions of people to validate their point. They do not have any irrefutable medical evidence as proof. They use mass control to make people believe they can heal others. Notice that you cannot find any hospital records of any "faith healer" going to hospitals and raising people up out of their beds of affliction. Certainly, people who have loved ones in the hospital or any health service wants them healed. Of course God Almighty is not limited and can heal anyone at anytime. We must be very careful when anyone makes claims that they themselves can heal anyone or God has given them special healing abilities. These individuals present themselves to other Christians as "authoritative figures" directly from God. They cannot guarantee anyone at anytime that if they follow the process they recommend, people will receive healing.
Let's call these individuals what they really are: con artists, fakes, frauds, rip-off artists, defrauders, schemers, hustlers. If these so called "faith healers", could heal as they claim, by just laying hands on someone, or giving them a "miracle product", the medical profession would be out of business immediately! There would be no hospitals, no doctor's offices, no health facilities. The fact is these individuals know they cannot help you and they use the name of the Lord at their preliminary statements to make people think that they are legitimate. The other fact is that thousands of people who claim to be followers of Christ as the Head of their lives, believe them.
Here is what the scriptures states about these fallacious, fraudulent, dishonest, distorted, and erroneous claims made by these individuals:
People who make those healing claims use the weakness and emotions of people to validate their point. They do not have any irrefutable medical evidence as proof. They use mass control to make people believe they can heal others. Notice that you cannot find any hospital records of any "faith healer" going to hospitals and raising people up out of their beds of affliction. Certainly, people who have loved ones in the hospital or any health service wants them healed. Of course God Almighty is not limited and can heal anyone at anytime. We must be very careful when anyone makes claims that they themselves can heal anyone or God has given them special healing abilities. These individuals present themselves to other Christians as "authoritative figures" directly from God. They cannot guarantee anyone at anytime that if they follow the process they recommend, people will receive healing.
Let's call these individuals what they really are: con artists, fakes, frauds, rip-off artists, defrauders, schemers, hustlers. If these so called "faith healers", could heal as they claim, by just laying hands on someone, or giving them a "miracle product", the medical profession would be out of business immediately! There would be no hospitals, no doctor's offices, no health facilities. The fact is these individuals know they cannot help you and they use the name of the Lord at their preliminary statements to make people think that they are legitimate. The other fact is that thousands of people who claim to be followers of Christ as the Head of their lives, believe them.
Here is what the scriptures states about these fallacious, fraudulent, dishonest, distorted, and erroneous claims made by these individuals:
2 Thessalonians 2:3 (NLT)
“Don't be fooled by what they say:”
Matthew 7:15 (KJV)
"Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
Mark 13:21-23 (KJV)
21 "And then if any man shall say to you, Lo, here is Christ; or, lo, he is there; believe him not:"
Matthew 24:4-5 (KJV)
Matthew 24:11 (NIV)
"And many false prophets will appear, and deceive many people."
Acts 20:29-31 (KJV)
29 "For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock."
30 "Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them."
31 "Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears."
1 John 4:1(KJV)
"Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world."
2 Corinthians 11:13-15 (KJV)
13 "For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ."
15 "Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works."
2 Peter 2:1 (KJV)
"But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction."
We must always remember to let the Word of God, not people, be our final source. We apply God's Word, Prayer, and the Medical Profession to our daily living.
WILL WE EXPERIENCE ILLNESS?
The answer is yes. To say that illness will never come upon us as Christians is disingenuous. We are not going to live forever in our mortal bodies. Illness will come. We still live in the natural world and deal with natural manifestations of life. Things will hit our bodies. We are subjected to illness, disease, viruses, bad health, ill health, infections and surgery. We are not exempt from those things. Christians need to go to the doctor, hospital, take medication and follow the rules of gaining better health. Actuating this daily is a major part of our healing. We are only totally exempt from any manifestation of sickness when we receive our glorified bodies.
1 Corinthians 15:53-54 (KJV)
54 "So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory."
Here on earth we will experience illness and pain. God has given us spiritual wisdom and natural wisdom. God has given us the medical profession which is a great part of our health and healing.
OUR PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY CONCERNING OUR HEALTH & HEALING.
When I speak of living in health and having healing in our bodies, I am talking about living a pleasing and enjoyable life, while taking care of your body in the natural and making application of God’s Word about your own health. Taking care of the body in the natural is extremely important. One should not expect to have continued health and healing, when they are living a reckless lifestyle. If we abuse our body for years and then as a consequence we are sick, healing just does not happen instantly. We must also take in consideration that we are born with physiological and genetic differences and we will have different needs for our health and healing.
So for living in health and receiving healing, we make application of the SPIRITUAL(Prayer) and NATURAL(Medical).
SPIRITUAL (PRAYER)
Daily prayer and relationship with God to live in pleasing and enjoyable health is the SPIRITUAL APPLICATION.
Philippians 4:6 (KJV) “Be careful for nothing: but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.” Notice this verse states, "Let your requests be made known to God." This is, your prayer applies to the things you are requesting.
NATURAL (MEDICAL)
(2) Exercise, eating healthy, going for regular doctor visits, not internalizing stressful situations, not engaging in wrongdoing, and keeping the mind healthy, is among the many things we need to do for the NATURAL APPLICATION. As the World Health Organization states, health is physical and mental, not just the absence of disease or infirmity. Our health will be affected if we harbor animosity or bad feelings in our spirit. If we constantly are in a state of worry and distress, even though our health is good at that time, worry and distress will ultimately cause physical problems in our bodies.
When you pray to live in health and healing, that prayer should be in correlation with utilizing the medical profession. You are still trusting totally in God.
CHRIST HEALS
When we talk about the Lord healing people in His Ministry on earth we should put it in perspective. There was also a responsibility by the people on their health and healing. First we can look at some scriptures.
Matthew 4:23-24 (KJV)
23 “And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.”
24 “And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatic, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them.”
Matthew 8:2-3 (KJV)
2 “And behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.”
3 “And Jesus put forth his hand and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.
3 “And Jesus put forth his hand and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.
Matthew 14:35-36 (KJV)
35 “And when the men of that place had knowledge of him, they sent out into all that country round about, and brought unto him all that were diseased;
36 “And besought him that they might only touch the hem of his garment. And as many as touched were made perfectly whole.”
36 “And besought him that they might only touch the hem of his garment. And as many as touched were made perfectly whole.”
Matthew 19:2 (KJV)
“And great multitudes followed him; and he healed them there.”
Luke 7:21-22 (KJV)
21 “And in that same hour he cured many of their infirmities and plagues and of evil spirits; and unto many that were blind he gave sight.”
22 “Then Jesus answering said unto them, Go your way, and tell John what things you have seen and heard; how that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the gospel is preached.”
Matthew 8:15 (KJV)
“ And he touched her hand and the fever left her: and she arose, and ministered unto them”.
Luke 22:51 (KJV)
Luke 22:51 (KJV)
“And Jesus answered and said, Suffer ye thus far. And he touched his ear, and healed him.”
These scriptures shows that Christ does heal. Our Lord is still the same. Hebrews 13:8 (KJV) “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, today and forever.”
After the Lord healed those individuals and they were blessed to have health, they still had a responsibility. That responsibility was to keep in health by taking care of their bodies and using the resources of that day to assist them.
Today, Believers must understand that the Lord heals through Prayer and the Medical Profession. Never let anyone tell you not to seek medical assistance. A consistent pain in your body is a signal something is going on in your body that needs to be addressed. Here is the Medical definition of pain.
PAIN
“Pain is an unpleasant feeling that is conveyed to the brain by sensory neurons. The discomfort signals actual or potential injury to the body. However, pain is more than a sensation, or the physical awareness of pain; it also includes perception, the subjective interpretation of the discomfort. Perception gives information on the pain's location, intensity, and something about its nature. The various conscious and unconscious responses to both sensation and perception, including the emotional response, add further definition to the overall concept of pain.”
Seeking medical assistance is not a lack of faith. It is wisdom, understanding and knowing that God has blessed us with resources and fringe benefits that we are to take advantage of for our health and healing. Our Heavenly Father gives us wisdom, knowledge, and understanding.
Proverbs 2:6 (KJV)
Proverbs 3:13 (KJV)
“Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.”
Proverbs 4:11 (KJV)
“I have taught thee in the way of wisdom; I have led thee in right paths.”
Isaiah 11:2 (KJV)
“And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD;
Ephesians 1:17 (KJV)
“That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:”
Colossians 1:10 (KJV)
“That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;”
Continue in prayer and seeking medical resources for health and healing. The medical profession is a gift from God. We should live a pleasing and enjoyable lifestyle. We must take the responsibility to take action to live that lifestyle.
Jarrett L. Perdue Sr.
