11/16/2020
Do you have COVID-19, or some other deadly disease, and wish to overcome it? If so how are you praying, or better put; are you simply praying that the suffering be lifted from you or are you praying that your sins be forgiven, your life comes to reflect the will of God, and that God would heal you to serve Him more? When we hurt and are sick, or afraid of death, it is so easy to pray for relief without confessing our sins, asking forgiveness, and repairing the state of our soul within God’s will.
“Indeed he was ill, near to death. But God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow.”
Philippians 2:27 ESV
Paul wrote in his letter to the Philippians that both he and Timothy had been deathly ill, but that Timothy had recovered and was now nursing him back to health. Paul also made it clear that Timothy had become sick while doing the work of Christ... this tells us that he was living, and praying, within the will of God.
“for he nearly died for the work of Christ, risking his life to complete what was lacking in your service to me.”
Philippians 2:30 ESV
So how are we asking for healing when being faced with an illness that brings us to death’s door? Do we ask God for forgiveness, and bring our lives into alignment with His Will for us?
“And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.”
James 5:15 ESV
As men and women, our own desperate will is to be healed, and live, but what is God’s will for us? Jesus wanted to have the cup of suffering and death taken from His hand, but while praying He told His Father that “your will not mine be done”, and at that moment His death became imminent... but so was His resurrection, and life.
“for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him. And when he is killed, after three days he will rise.””
Mark 9:31 ESV
When it is God’s will for us to die we become much like Jesus. We will die, but if we have prepared ourselves in faith, and have obeyed the will of God, then we too will live again.
So where does that leave healing? Well, healing, like death, depends on God’s Will. The healings we read about in the Bible were performed to validate Christ, glorify God, and to serve His purposes. Whether Jesus healed lepers, the lame, the blind, or the woman with a bloody discharge, each played an important role in God’s Will, and plan.
“Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.”
John 20:30-31 ESV
So today, even before we become ill, we should prepare ourselves for the prayers we anticipate praying once we are sick. We should seek God’s will for our life, and we should establish or restore our good and loving relationship with Him, and Jesus Christ. In this way we can bravely prepare ourselves for what lies ahead, and praise the Lord for it.
Prayer:
Father, I thank you for your Holy Spirit that leads us in prayer when we are sick, and gives us the courage to face death. I thank you all the more for the example of Jesus Christ who has taught us how to seek and obey your will in all things. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you my God who either heals us when we are sick, or ushers us into death as you lead unbelievers to accept you, and praise you as their God. You are merciful Lord, and lift our sickness from us when others need to see your goodness, and you show your grace when giving eternal life to restore the dying so that all can witness your loving kindness. Help us in our unbelief Father, and wash us clean with the healing blood of Jesus. In this way all sinners can find hope in our cleansing, and your forgiveness. Lift us up on the day jog judgement, and find us worthy in Christ of an eternal place at your table.
Rich Forbes