A Biblical Case for Healing, Part 2

One of the apostles road is anyone among you suffering.

His answer was, let him pray and is anyone among you sick and his answer was, let him do you recall try some elixir take a pill and get plenty of rest today on Insight for living Chuck Swindoll will describe the biblical remedy for sickness and suffering. Chuck is teaching from James chapter 5 in the event you missed the previous program will begin with some helpful highlights. Chuck titled his message of biblical case. Let me give you six statements by way of review list you have forgotten them, or have never heard they all tie in with the sickness sinfulness issue and they are all related. And for that reason, I want to repeat that now and I'll do them rather hurriedly because this is review, primarily, there are two types of sin. There is original sandwich we got from Adam and there are personal sins which we commit original sin were born with. We are sinners by nature and because we have the simple route within us, we act out in sinful fruit in our daily lives.

Second, original sin, introduced sickness, suffering and death head Adam and Eve never send. I am convinced they would never have known sickness, suffering, or that they would've ever died but with the entrance of sin came sickness, disease, all kinds of human affliction and the ultimate plague of life that is the reality of death. Number three. Often there exists a direct relationship between personal sins and sickness David admitted. Finally, when he came to the reality of his adultery and hypocrisy in the murder of Uriah, the husband of Bathsheba. He finally admitted to his sin and as a result, he found himself getting well.

Until then there had been an extended period of illness and heartache and guilt and shame.

I believe the man suffered from insomnia. He struggled in his rulership over the nation Israel. There was a direct relationship between his sinfulness and the sickness that he went through number four sometimes there is no relationship between personal sands and human afflictions. When the when the disciples happened along a man who was born blind date, they said, Lord, who send him or his parents, and Jesus said neither one sin. The man is not blind because somebody sin. Sometimes there is no relationship between personal sands and ends and affliction number five. There are occasions we get this when it is not God's will that we be healed. Paul himself said I prayed three times that that I might be relieved of this thorn in the flesh in the Lord never relieved him of the thorn in the flesh. I believe he died some form of terrible I disease some form about Lomeli. It is not God's will that everyone be healed and I think it is a weak theology that teaches otherwise.

Number six, there are other times, however, when it is God's will that we be healed and he does so miraculously and immediately be sure that you add those two words for they go together when God is involved in the healing. It is an immediate thing and it is a miraculous thing Peter and John happened upon a man who was afflicted, sitting beside the temple asking almost and he was hoping for a few shekels and they said to him there's no money to be exchanged between us we have no money, silver and gold. We have done, but what we have. We give you in the name of Christ stand up and walk in. The man stood up immediately. Miraculously, and no one in that vicinity had ever seen him walk before and he walked and I'm convinced it stayed permanently healing in his life. All of this prepares us for a wonderful passage of Scripture in James chapter 5 I like to have you open your Bible if you will do these 13 through 16 verses verses 13 to 16 of James five and I just kind of want to walk through this section with you and let you see with your own eyes the process a person goes through as a Christian when we get sick. I think it might be a little bit eye-opening for some a little bit reassuring for some reason. Verses five verse 13 of James is anyone among you suffering let him pray. Is anyone cheerful let them sing song, sing praises. Is anyone among you sick 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 and the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who was sick and the Lord will raise him up, and if he has committed sins, they will be forgiven him. Therefore confess your sins one to another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much. Clearly, James divides the people in the church into three categories very simple division. It is certainly much more complicated than this, but for the sake of the subject. James speaks first of those who are suffering. See the word in verse 13 is anyone among you suffering let him pray. There's a. And there is not another piece of advice given to the sufferer.

So this caused me to do a little word study on cockle papaya, which is the term translated suffering I found it in this form only here in the New Testament and it is in one other form only three times in each of the three times it is found in second Timothy Paul's last letter and in those three times.

It is translated suffer hardship. It seems as though the word means to be the brunt of this treatment to be suffering from persecution from misunderstanding, to be suffering from hard times are difficult times. It's not the same word as a physical disease. It is a word that means to suffer hardship.

Individuals who experience a persecution at work because of their faith are going through, cockle, papaya, the going through a suffering were told pray pray for those people. They are not promised anything special we are not guaranteed that the suffering.

Apparently in the praying new strength, its strength to endure the ability to withstand hardship in hard times. So when such external difficulties occur, the answer is pray and I don't mean that the sound light I I certainly don't take it that way. Anytime Scripture says pray.

I think we are tapping the source of maximum power Lord intervene on behalf of of this family or this individual. This couple take take charge. Help me in my life Lord as I'm going through such and such and he intervene, he takes charge. He by his grace brings relief. Now the second category is a happy category. Is anyone cheerful and there are always a few then let them sing praises. Let them saying we are not to hold back I will I weary of Christian groups that feel it is sort of halfway carnal to have a great time and to enter laugh enter into enjoy the blessings of God. I've been with couples who have been wonderfully bread, blessed with prosperity and they want to treated as though it's the best kept secret in the church. Don't tell anybody how nice we had don't know that if the party know that it's been a marvelous year for so don't let the word out that our business is doing great me like why not it up because in Christian circles that look down on me.

There's gotta be something wrong because of envy in so many people's lives. I hope you have come to the place of maturity in your life that the Lord can bless someone else abundantly, without your need to feel that he must bless you the same. Before you can enjoy. May the Lord give us such grace, that we can applaud the blessings of God in people's lives.

While we may not have such blessings in our own we have come upon terrible times when we are unable to give him praise for someone else's cheer and joy he says is anyone cheerful let him sing praises. Let it out, and now the subject at hand. Is anyone among you sick as is critical that we understand the meaning of the word and that we understand the process we go through this word is something that oh AST HEENT oh it means to be weak, to be without strength. Stay with me it means to be disabled. To be incapacitated. It is like our friend on the airplane back in February 1975.

So sick was he that they had to bring a wheelchair and put him on it so they could wheel him off of the plane so sick was he could not even take the meal that was served, so sick was he that he had to remain recline throughout the trip. Once we took off it means to be set aside incapacitated, unable to be up and around unable to come to the place of worship and to enjoy fellowship with other believers. This person is sick. It's not a mild headache. It's not a chronic back ache.

This person is sick, sick to the point of being unable to go to the elders, but in fact he or she calls for the elders to come to him or her. Let's go through the step-by-step process and let's pay close attention to what God is written in his word I give you three steps just as they appear here, not steps, but parts of a process. First, the sick person takes the initiative the sick person takes the initiative. Is anyone among you sick let him let the sick one call for the elders of the church. Sometime there are people who are sick in the church and the pastors of the last people to know about and they feel left out. They fit I should say the parishioner feel like the people don't care at the church when they really never told anyone to make it real clear that in no pastor study.

Is there a massive crystal ball that has a computer within it that reads out all the names of an entire congregation on a daily basis and puts in neon lights. Those who are feeling badly. I'm being facetious.

There is no way for us to know anyone is sick.

If you don't let us know. There is no way for anybody to know that you have need. If you don't make him known. If you prefer not to do that your business don't blame anybody for if you are sick. If you are incapacitated. If you are unable to be up and around, then it is your move to take the initiative, according to the Scriptures let him or her call for the elders of the church. I watch closely. This is where it gets a little bit complicated. Number two. Once they arrive, they carry out two functions according to what I read in verses 14 and 50 before describing those functions.

Let me point out that particular construction in the original Greek sentence that will help clarify this this phrase in verse 14.

Let me read it for you literally. Is anyone among you sick let them call for the elders of the church and let them pray over him having anointed him with oil in the name of the Lord. You notice the order of the verbs let them pray over him having anointed him with oil. So, which would come first.

The oil or the prayer, the oil would precede the prayer you say will what's the big deal. Well, it's a big deal.

Stay with as you see the passage unfold. You will see the significance of there are two Greek words for anoint one always has a religious and ceremonial connotation.

The Lord had David's head anointed with oil. It was a ceremony. It was a preliminary statement before he came to the throne of Israel. His head was anointed with oil.

However, you would never tell someone that you anointed your bike because it was squeaking or you anointed your child's tricycle with oil. It has no religious connotation to it at all. Of the two uses of words. It is the latter that is used here so unknowing is not really a good rendering and in in extra-biblical usage. This same term was used with referring with with reference to bathing when a person would rub soap and water onto the body. It was also used for giving a massage in a gymnasium for rubbing this the skin with oil for the purpose of loosening up, softening the muscles when the good Samaritan stopped and took care of the man who was beaten along the road to Jericho.

Remember the scene we read that he poured oil and wine into the womb, the same term appears in ancient Greek documents for and medical treatises for the use of oil for the purpose of medication. That's a major leap into an understanding of the passage when you let it sink in.

When the term does not have a religious ceremonial use in this one does not. It is frequently used in medical treatises with reference to the application of proper medicine I suggested for today's use, it would refer to the proper use of medication and the assistance of appropriate professional help. How often this is rejected by alleged divine healers they would tell you do not need medical attention. They will often speak critically and sarcastically of medical assistance in the professional health assistance that can be given and is made available to us tell you how strongly I believe about it. I find it very hard to pray for someone who refuses to follow the doctor's prescription who refuses to take the medication that he or she is given. It's all part of the healing process who refuses the therapy that is recommended by appropriate and professional individual. The point here is that in those days elders because there were not many medical doctors saw to it that appropriate medication was given that the application of oil was applied to the body in whatever way they used to do it. It was all part of the healing process a man you and I have admired from a distances see every this man has written in a book entitled the agony of deceit, a marvelous statement in the chapter on faith healing and the sovereignty of God which I would want. I would wish to quote please listen to Dr. Coombs words and by the way, I think. Just before I read that I should let you know something of his background as a medical doctor. He writes I don't know how many operations I actually performed. In my surgical career I know I performed 17,000 of one particular type. 7000 of another. I practice surgery for 39 years, so perhaps I performed at least 50,000 operations that will give you some idea of his background in the field of medicine. He writes a surprising number of Christians are convinced God will not be believed, unless he makes tumors disappear causes asthma to go away and pops eyes into empty sockets.

But the gospel is accepted by God-given faith, not by the guarantee that you will never be sick or if you are that you will be miraculously healed.

God is the Lord of healing of growing of whether of transportation, of every other process yet people don't expect vegetables without plowing they don't expect levitation.

Instead of getting in a car and turning a key even for extraordinarily good and exceptional reason, although God could do all of this Christian airline pilots do not fly straight into a thunderstorm. After asking God for safe corridor. Although he could give them such safety. We do not have public services and ask God to remove all criminals, prostitutes and pornographers from our midst. Although he could do that to God could eliminate aides from our planet. While we pray for a speedy discovery of successful treatment. I must do all I can to employ medical science in its task as all healthcare professionals must do. Not enough is said from evangelical pulpits regarding the benefits of those who service us in the field of medicine and I speak on their behalf.

They are not miracle workers. They are not healers they cannot cure anything God cures God heals, but they have been given training in wisdom and understanding, and many of them who are Christians have a full or appreciation for the presence of God in the midst of the practice of their profession pleasing your growth in faith, do not speak disparagingly of those in the medical profession medical fields. I say again, if it if it is stated in this passage such as this.

It certainly should be applied in our day and age of advanced technology. Do I believe Advanced Technology heals.

Again I must say no God heals, but in the process of finding relief. If I follow this instruction correctly, the elders, and they make sure that proper medication has taken place.

It is being applied and they were in the first century involved themselves and then secondly they were to pray they were to pray fervently.

They were to pray believing really.

So the third thing I would write in our process of healing is specific results are left in the Lords hand's. His will is to be done.

Let's not disconnect verses 14 and 50 let them pray over him having massage, having poured in. Having applied oil in the name of the Lord. That is a colloquialism in that day for the will of God have them place this on him doing it in the will of God have the pray in the will of God and the prayer offered in faith when it is the will of God is the application of the context will restore the one who was sick. Don't yank that out of its context, and that speak only of verse 15 without seeing 14 tied in with it. It's all a part of the same piece of biblical tapestry. The elders are praying over this person in the name of the Lord that is invoking God's will.

Asking God's presence. God's blessing. There's much more to learn on this topic so please stay with us. Chuck Swindoll is presenting what he calls a biblical case for healing and this is inside for living. To learn more about this ministry, we invite you to visit us online@insideworld.org and then as a means for digging deeper on your own.

We invite you to browse through the variety of free Bible study resources at your disposal. For instance, you've likely heard us mention the searching the Scriptures. Studies that are online. These are interactive meeting. You can type your thoughts directly into the document or you can feel free to print out the PDF and use the notes during your personal quiet times to access the searching the Scriptures guides for Chuck's daily messages go to insight.org/studies bear in mind that while you're listening to Chuck's teaching today. Your joined with fellow listeners around the world.

Many of them are just learning how to walk with God and some are hearing about God's Holy Spirit for the very first time, but there's a common thread woven through all the messages we receive.

And it's one of gratitude.

Sure, one of the notes we received. This listener said Chuck. While I was stationed at Dover Air Force Base, a voice came across the radio that saved me from self-destructing and then he adds I'm tearing up thinking about how short my life could have been if you hadn't been there on that cold rainy night. If I ever get the chance to meet you.

I would love to thank you personally, but if we don't get a chance to meet on this side of only asking Jesus where you're sitting is not great.

One more person that God has saved by his grace.

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I Bill Meyer join us. When Chuck Swindoll continues his message called a biblical case for healing Friday on insight for living. The preceding message a biblical case for healing was copyrighted in 1993 and 2003 and the sound recording was copyrighted in 2003 by Charles R. Swindoll. All rights are reserved worldwide. Duplication of copyrighted material for commercial use is strictly prohibited