Sickness and Health

Does God want me well? When I pray do I get healed?

There are many questions regarding sickness and how to get healing. But there are many erroneous teachings we must watch out for. We must be careful to not take extreme positions that are unbiblical.

The short answer to the above questions is: Yes, God wants you well. But the most important thing that concerns God is your spiritual well-being. As you obey God more and more, you will also be more healthy. As is the spiritual, so is the physical, but the spiritual comes first. Sometimes, there are other reasons why a person is not healed (and it doesn’t necessarily mean the person is sinning or lacking faith).

Let’s explore what the Bible says about sickness and health.

Myth #1: Sickness is of the devil. Health is from God.

This is a myth, because God is in control of everything. He is the One who allows and decides what happens. The Bible clearly teaches that God brings both well-being and calamity.

“I am the Lord, and there is no other,
The One forming light and creating darkness,
Causing well-being and creating calamity;
I am the Lord who does all these.” (Isaiah 45:6-7)

With regards to sicknesses, the Bible says God is the one who puts sicknesses on the disobedient.

“And He said, ‘If you will give earnest heed to the voice of the Lord your God, and do what is right in His sight, and give ear to His commandments, and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have put on the Egyptians; for I, the Lord, am your healer.’ ” (Exodus 15:26)

So it is obvious from these verses that God brings sickness and God brings health. We do not live in a world where we only get good things from God while all the bad things come from the evil one. On the contrary, we live in a world where God can bring both well-being or calamity, because He is in control of everything.

So why does God bring both sickness and health?

We need to go back to the beginning, to when God created a perfect world in which there was no sickness or death. The world was perfect back then, because sin had not entered it. But when the first humans sinned, God brought death and disease as punishment for sins (Genesis 3).

So we can see that the general root cause of sickness and death is sin. Everyone can fall sick and die, because everyone has sinned.

However, God brings a solution to this problem. God brings us spiritual life through Jesus, who died for us. As we believe in Christ and live for Him, we have spiritual life and can become healthier physically.

Note the conditional statement in the verse: “If you will give earnest heed to the voice of the Lord your God, and do what is right in His sight, and give ear to His commandments, and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have put on the Egyptians; for I, the Lord, am your healer” (Exodus 15:26).

The condition is being obedient to God. If we believe in Jesus, but continue to live in sin, then we are in trouble with God, and God cannot bless us.

“For this reason many among you are weak and sick, and a number sleep. But if we judged ourselves rightly, we would not be judged. But when we are judged, we are disciplined by the Lord so that we will not be condemned along with the world.” (1 Corinthians 11:30-32)

Many people in the Corinthian church were sick and weak, because they sinned against the Lord. If we examine ourselves, repent and work with God to overcome our sins, we would not be judged and we would become stronger spiritually and physically.

Myth #2: You are sick because you sinned or don’t have enough faith.

This is a blanket statement that is also bad teaching. We need to be careful of broad generalizations, because this can lead to stereotypes and make us guilty of being judgmental.

“As He [Jesus] passed by, He saw a man blind from birth. And His disciples asked Him, ‘Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he would be born blind?’ 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.'” (John 9:1-3)

People can be sick or disabled for various reasons. It is not necessarily true that the person sinned a lot or that he doesn’t have enough faith to be healed.

When Jesus answered His disciples, He did not mean that this man never sinned or that his parents never sinned. We know that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). But the disciples asked this question, implying that this man or his parents sinned more badly than other people so he became blind.

God teaches us not to be judgmental. Do not look on a sick person and think that if he would just repent and have some faith, he would be made well. Sometimes, things happen for a reason we do not know. So we should not pass judgment.

“Do not judge so that you will not be judged. For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you. Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?” (Matthew 7:1-3)

Myth #3: Healing happened during the times of the Bible. It doesn’t happen now.

On the other extreme, there are Christians who think God’s miraculous healings happened in the old days during the apostolic ministries or during Jesus’ ministry, but they don’t happen anymore.

This is also not true. “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8)

“Is anyone among you sick? Then he must call for the elders of the church and they are to pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; and the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up, and if he has committed sins, they will be forgiven him.” (James 5:14-15)

So healing does happen today. As far as it depends on us, we need to practice faith, avoid sin, and pray.

Myth #4: God heals everyone every time.

Some Christians believe that God heals everyone. They say that Jesus healed everyone who came to Him, so no one should be sick if they only knew this “truth”. Many healing ministries start this way. The primary mission is to find sick people and pray for them to get well. When the sick see healing miracles, hopefully they will believe in God too.

This makes the mistake of putting the cart before the horse. The primary mission is for people to repent of their sins and be saved. The gospel is not an afterthought. The gospel is the primary mission, not physical healing!

“For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. For indeed Jews ask for signs and Greeks search for wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness, but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.” (1 Corinthians 1:21-25)

It is not true that God’s mission right now is to make everyone physically well. Christ did not come to earth to abolish death or sickness, but He came to offer Himself as a sacrifice to save sinners. In the future kingdom, there will be no death or sickness (Revelation 21:4). But for now, we need to focus on our primary mission, which is to: “make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you” (Matthew 28:19-20).

Furthermore, Jesus did not heal everyone. When He went to the pool of Bethesda, He found one man and healed him, but He skipped over everyone else:

“Now there is in Jerusalem by the sheep gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew Bethesda, having five porticoes. In these lay a multitude of those who were sick, blind, lame, and withered… A man was there who had been ill for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he had already been a long time in that condition, He said to him, ‘Do you wish to get well?’ … Jesus said to him, ‘Get up, pick up your pallet and walk.’ Immediately the man became well, and picked up his pallet and began to walk. …

Afterward Jesus found him in the temple and said to him, ‘Behold, you have become well; do not sin anymore, so that nothing worse happens to you.’ ” (John 5: 2-3, 5-6, 8-9, 14)

Why did Jesus skip over everyone else who were sick, blind, lame, and withered?

It was not Jesus’ mission to abolish sickness or death. It is true Jesus healed those who came to Him, but He did not go out to look for every sick person in order to heal him. Jesus’ primary concern was that people would repent of their sins and follow God. That was His message to the man He healed: “Do not sin anymore” (John 5:14).

Sin is to spiritual sickness as germs is to physical sickness. And our spiritual condition can affect our physical condition. When we sin, we open ourselves to what is not good for our spirits and our bodies. This is why Jesus told the man to not sin anymore so that nothing worse would happen to him.

Our primary message to other people should also be the gospel: to believe in Jesus for salvation and to repent of our sins. This is not to dismiss healing ministries. But healing ministries should have the gospel as the focus, not physical healing as the focus.

When people come, tell them about Jesus and how to be saved, and pray for them to get well spiritually and physically.

Truth #1: God’s higher intent is the spiritual first, then the physical.

God’s higher intent is our spiritual well-being first, then our physical well-being. The reason we have sickness and death is sin. So God wants us to deal with that first.

“Let the wicked forsake his way
And the unrighteous man his thoughts;
And let him return to the Lord,
And He will have compassion on him,
And to our God,
For He will abundantly pardon.” (Isaiah 55:7)

The Bible also says, “seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (Matthew 6:33).

So let us seek God foremost and trust in Him. Let us observe His commandments, and He will be our healer.

Truth #2: The heart of the Father is for us to be well.

We need to understand that God is our Father, who wants the best for His children. The heart of the Father is for us to be well. God wants us well spiritually and physically.

When Jesus healed, He asked, “Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, and walk’? But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins” (Matthew 9:5-6). Then Jesus said to the sick man: “Get up, pick up your bed and go home” (Matthew 9:6).

So God wants us well both spiritually and physically. He is our Father and He loves us. We should believe in God’s love for us, and ask Him to heal us spiritually and physically.

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. Or what man is there among you who, when his son asks for a loaf, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!” (Matthew 7:7-11)

Truth #3: God can use sickness to teach important lessons.

As far as it depends on us, we should avoid sin, obey God, and trust Him for healing. It does not mean we will never get sick. Sometimes God uses sickness to teach us important lessons.

Paul

Even the apostle Paul (who healed many people) was sick at least one time, because he wrote to the Galatians: “you know that it was because of a bodily illness that I preached the gospel to you the first time; and that which was a trial to you in my bodily condition you did not despise or loathe, but you received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus Himself” (Galatians 4:13-14).

Even though the apostle Paul performed miracles and healed other people, when he appeared to the Galatians the first time, he was weak and sick. It was a test to the Galatians when they first met Paul. Would they look at his illness and despise him and ignore God’s words? Or would they see the value of God’s words above what they saw physically in Paul’s body?

The Galatians passed the test! They valued God’s words more than any earthly appearance. This is an important lesson. So God uses Paul’s illness to teach us even today.

Timothy

And to Timothy (Paul’s beloved child in the Lord), Paul advised: “No longer drink water exclusively, but use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments” (1 Timothy 5:23).

Timothy was sick frequently because of bad water. God showed that a little alcohol can be used to kill bacteria and parasites in the water. God can use both medicine and miracles for healing, so we should not limit God to only one type of healing.

Elisha

A great prophet of God in the Old Testament also performed many miracles. He worked for God even up to his dying day. But he died of an illness: “When Elisha became sick with the illness of which he was to die, Joash the king of Israel came down to him and wept over him…” (2 Kings 13:14).

God shows through this that sin affects everyone. The punishment for sin is death. Even great men of God do not escape physical death. We can receive God’s healings during our lifetime. But one day we could still die by illness.

Submit to God

People can fall sick for various reasons. Sometimes God uses our illnesses to teach important lessons. Sometimes we don’t know the reason why we are sick.

But this much is true: God is sovereign and good. Are we willing to submit to Him?

To prevent Paul from becoming prideful, God gave him a thorn in the flesh. When Paul asked God to take it away, God said to him: “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9)”.

Then Paul answered: “Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me… for when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:9-10).

Truth #4: We need to take care of our bodies.

The Bible tells us that we need to take care of our bodies. We cannot destroy or abuse our own bodies:

“Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If any man destroys the temple of God, God will destroy him, for the temple of God is holy, and that is what you are.” (1 Corinthians 3:16-17)

“…for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it…” (Ephesians 5:29)

“For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.” (1 Corinthians 6:20)

“Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 10:31)

These verses show that we need to take care of our bodies. So keep healthy habits. Eat what’s nourishing and good. Avoid overeating. Avoid eating too many unhealthy foods. Try to take breaks during your day to do some physical activities, such as taking a walk or exercising.

Summary

In summary, to be made well, we should:

1. Trust in Jesus for salvation and repent of our sins.
2. Walk with God and obey Him. Be submissive to what God wants to do in our lives.
3. Seek His spiritual and physical healing.
4. Take care of and nourish our bodies.

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