Bible Discussion Thread

I was ministering today to a lady who asked me why as a Christian she was having to go through all the health issues she was having. She is faithful to the church and a great person. She can not understand why she is so sick. I struggled to give her answers. I hope someone can help me answer her.

Carl,

I would like to echo what Kay has said. I completely agree her. I honestly believe that the tough circumstances we go through as believers, whether it be physical ailment, sickness, loss of possessions, or whatever the case might be, all those circumstances are put before us to teach us how to place our complete trust in Christ. It took me many years to figure it out, but when things were going great in my life, I found it easy to thank God and give Him praise. But when hardships would come, my focus was always on what I needed to do to work out whatever it was I was going through instead of placing all my cares and troubles on the Lord and trusting that He would work it out.

I think the best answer I would give her would be to give her situation to the Lord, ask Him in prayer for His will to be done, and then accept whatever He does, knowing that the situation might get better, might remain the same, might even get worse, but knowing that it is His will she is surrendering to in prayer.

Bless you, Carl, for being such a caring friend. Keep coming back for encouragement. I haven't always been healed when I ask for it, too. Just don't stop asking. Certainly search yourself and ask God to show you anything that needs to be confessed. HE already knows all we've done that might offend Him.

I'm sending some scriptures you are to give to your friend so she can prevail in prayer. Pray the scripture and then personalize it. Don't give up. Realize too that Ephesians 6, shows us that we're to be strong and FIGHT BACK WITH ALL OUR MIGHT against the SPIRIT OF INFIRMITY and THE SPIRIT OF DEATH. Bind them and cast them into outer darkness of dry places. In the Name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth.

It is helpful to bring praise and worship music into the home. It changes the atmosphere. She might listen to older albums of John Michael Talbot through YouTube on her phone. One song in particular, "Heal Me."

It would be useful for her to listen to some teachings of Charles Capps: Authority of the Belived; Gods Creative Power for Healing. On YouTube. He was a great teacher; and is with the Lord now. But we have his books to read and videos online.

She needs to encourage herself in the Lord. Pray the scriptures I gave, and put her name in them. Also to repent for weak faith and despair. Ephesians 6 every day!

Myself included; Satan would love to snuff out our faith and beat us down, so we'll give up. Get LOUD in those prayers.

Come back here and let us minister to you and your friend. Someone on here might gain insight through the testing of her faith.

I know Jesus loves you both. Mishael

Carl, the issue of 'why Christians suffer' is one of the biggest dilemmas we often see amongst believers.

My thoughts are these.

First of all, it helps to remember that all of our maladies stem from the fact that we ourselves our sinners, albeit redeemed ones, and live in a fallen world. This is not heaven; believers are subject to anything and everything this world holds.

Secondly, because we have sinned, and there is much work yet to do within our hearts to conform us to God, the Lord does bring us through many difficulties, whether financial distress, relational troubles, and physical ailment, to name a few. Many of God's saints have been exercised in sickness of mind and/or body, as well as manifold other troubles! David says, in Psalm 119:67, 'Before I was afflicted, I went astray; but NOW I have kept Thy Word." Afflictions are the sheepdogs that drive us to our Shepherd. :) And I smiled wryly at one point of your comment, Carl: "...she is faithful to the church". That can be a wonderful thing! What an honor to serve the lambs of Jesus! Amen! BUT, often, we can slip into being more faithful to the church than we are to Jesus Himself. We spend our time in programs and other things that actually eat up time that He wants us to spend with Him. I'm not saying this is the case with this dear woman...but it could be that Jesus is 'making her to lie down' on her back for a while so that she looks up at Him more. :)

ALL things work together for good to those who are the called according to His purpose". Romans 8:28.

2 Cor. 4:

16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.

17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;

God designs that all that we experience in this life draws us closer to Him. May we all learn to let all things we endure cast us deeper into the mold of Christ Jesus! Amen!

Blessings, Carl....

DEAR, Mr. FLEENOR

tell your friend she is getting sick because of (SIN ) she is flesh, and she inherited (SIN ) you see god told adam and eve that if they ate from the tree of good and evil that they would surely (DIE!!!) THEY DID!!! so unfortunetly (WE ) DIE. ( I WANT YOU TO GENTLEY!!! ) tell her that she wasnt the one who disobeyed but (WE ) are the ones who shall reap of some one elses sowings !!! i also i want you to tell her that one day when she is done running the race and she crosses the finish line that she will recieve her (PRIZE !!! ) and there will be (NO MORE SICKNESS !!!) - (NO MORE PAIN !!! ) - (NO MORE HUNGER !!! ) - (NO MORE THIRST !!! ) -( NO MORE WHYS AND HOW COMES !!! ) - (NO MORE WHAT IFS !!! ) - (NO MORE SIN !!! ) - (NO MORE DEATH !!! ) - (NO MORE CORUPTION !!! ) - (NO MORE EVIL !!! ) - ( NO MORE FLESH THAT IS WEAK !!! ) - AND - (NO MORE CRYING !!! ) just believers bieng one with (CHRIST !!! ) so Mr. FLEENOR i want you to go back to your friend and (TEACH AND PREACH ) to her the (GOOD NEWS !!! )

I have faced this very question in my own life at one time. God led me to James chapter 1 which talks about our faith being tested when we face temptations or adversity. It says "My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing (this), that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have (her)perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing." James 1:1-4. Much like Job in the old testament, whom didn't do anything wrong yet his friends accused him of it, God allowed the testing of his faith. When we go though trials, our faith is tested. God desires us to continue to trust fully in Him, which at times can be difficult, but God is faithful and tells us that the testings we go through are not more than we can bear. Our afflictions can also bring unity of the Body of Christ which is also discussed in James chapter 5: 13-16, "Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms. Is any sick among you? 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 of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. Confess (your) faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." I hope this helps and is an encouragement even in times when we struggle. God bless

Dear Carl.

In my opinion I don't think there is a unique answer for these kind of issues. It may be due to any reason or no reason at all. I think the person concerned must ask God about that to get an answer for herself. But a general advice is that since God never promised to not let health problems,happening to people, we have the right as children of God to go to Him and ask for healing having faith in our heart, and even ask for faith itself if we lack in.

GBU

Carl; without knowing the full extent of sickness it would be unwise to comment too much on her. But for most illness in a wider sense, is sickness or an evil spirit? My 1st question would be does she fallow Gods health laws? Has she always? that includes eating no scavengers, pork? But GOD wanted to be ruler of HIS people but man rejected and wanted man kings instead. Sense man has ruled they have polluted our environment to a degree that sickness comes. The truth of it is because they have rejected HIM. GOD gave man everything he needs to live healthy and prosperously in HIS WORD. GOD even warned us what would happen with a man king but they still rejected HIM. GOD does not put burdens on people and HE certainly would not cause sickness on one that loves HIM; that is not to say HE wouldn't allow it. It is a true statement that "what doesn't kill us makes us stronger" We can't live a rough and tumble life and expect nothing to happen later. Flesh is mortal; Paul spoke on this and said all the pain he endured brought him closer to GOD; I can personally attest to this. Look at poor old Job what he went through, GOD didn't cause it but HE allowed Satan to do it why? To show Satan in a (1 and only time GOD allowed an all-out and out assault, that Job was faithful till death). I say this as politely as I can; if she is a true believer and of faith, repent to be closer at time and anoint her with Olive oil as Gods tells us to do and pray IF it is FATHERS will, heal in YESHUAs name.

All Christians should do this: Anoint your door post again with pure virgin Olive oil asking GOD to bless the oil in prayer. As you anoint with a touch to the top and sides, Ask GOD to bless the home and keep any evil spirits, negativity, illness, from entering the home, command any evil spirits or sickness out if it. FATHERS will be done in YESHUAs name.

Dear "Carl F Fleenor", it is never easy when one does not see the healing. What did Jesus say in Matthew 17:14-21 ? It is there even in a state of invisibility. You have to go in everything you ask for. As i pray and read in the word of God every day, i feel that the Lord Jesus heals me every day. See me a poor man who does not even know what i am asking for! He says that the answer is on its way! Think how great a joy it is in Heaven for people to be saved. That is the most important thing of all. ps. In my life there has been illness from day 1. If I now end up in hospital, I testify even more for Jesus. So even the wicked refuse me to go to the hospital. :D

Let's say we ask for a sore shoulder. This does not mean that we should go with the arm in the sling, but use it and soo on. If you ask to buy a new car for the one you have, it will fall apart. Pray to the Lord, and even if you are afraid, He will help you to cope with the stress of buying a car. Go in it with thanks!

I once met a young lady who said: God helps those who help themselves. I have thought about these words a lot. Because they are true in a way. For we must enter into healing, into the church, into the blessing. Then we understand that the Lord has done for us. Then the thanksgiving and His glory will be much much more. Thank for everything.

It is an honor to God that we walk in His way. My grace is sufficient for you, said the Lord to Paul. And those are strong words, but we will also meet Paul sometime in the future. The words also apply to us. We never know when. But we know the day is coming. May God bless u and her with all Spiritual wisdom in Him who will have all Glory and Power forever, Amen Hope this was helpful. Love u in Christ.

Matthew 18