CENTRAL THOUGHT
Total Wellbeing is our inheritance in Christ.
TEXT: EXODUS 15:26; DEUT.7:13-15; ISAIAH 53:3- 5; 3 JOHN 2.
INTRODUCTION:
A careful study of the scriptures will reveal that God’s original plan for man is for him to enjoy total wellbeing. Divine healing is God’s intervention where situations and challenges of life speak otherwise. We can boldly say that there is no healing without God’s intervention, whether through orthodox medicine, herbal medication or prayers. It is God’s prerogative to determine the method by which
an ailment could be healed. Some drugs are manufactured from herbs and God created the herbs and specifically said that some of them are for man’s healing. The scriptures contain numerous promises of God concerning healing and a wholesome life for man. Healing is part and parcel of the salvation package procured by our Lord Jesus for us on the cross. He borne our sickness when He died for our sins.
In this study, we shall examine among other things how to appropriate God’s promises to bring about our healing and how to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
LESSON OBJECTIVES
To Know:
- How sickness entered the world.
- That it is God’s will for us to receive healing.
- The condition that should be met before we can receive divine healing.
- The hinderances to receive divine healing.
- How to appropriate God’s promises to us for divine healing and remain in health.
BIBLE TRUTH:
QUESTION 1) HOW DID SICKNESS ENTER THE WORLD? GEN.2:17, 3:5-10; ROM.5:12; JN.5:14; LUKE.13:11-16; ACTS.10:38; MARK 1:23; 9:25.
God made man in His own image and likeness and placed him in the garden of Eden to dress and keep it. He instructed man not to eat the fruit of a particular tree in the garden because the day he eats of the fruit he will die. However, man could not keep the commandment and ate of the fruit and ‘died’. Through this disobedience, man became subject to the manipulation of the devil of which sicknesses and diseases are by products. So, sickness and suffering are the product of curses God placed on man as a result of sin against God.
QUESTION 2) IS IT GOD’S WILL FOR US TO BE HEALED AND BE IN GOOD HEALTH? DISCUSS: EXOD.15:26; DEUT.7:13-15; MARK 16:17-19; JAMES 5:13-15; PS.103:3-5; 3 JOHN 2.
Yes, it is God’s will for us to be healed and be in good health during our sojourn here on earth. This is obvious because, at the point He placed the curse on man, He also put in place a plan not only to heal man from the sickness that would emerge as a result of the curses, but a perpetual remedy to the effect of the sin against Him (God). (Gen.3:15). In addition, He declared in His word, that He is our healer. He cannot lie, so He is willing at all times to heal and keep us in good health. (Exod. 15:26; Ps.103:3; Jer.30:17).
QUESTION 3) WHAT CONDITION SHOULD BELIEVERS MEET TO BE HEALED? PS.66:18; MARK 9:23; 11:24; JN.15:7; ROM.12:1; EXOD.15:26.
Healing is a part of the package in the salvation Christ procured for us on the cross with his blood. Therefore, the first condition a believer should meet to qualify for divine healing is to ensure that he/she is born again (has received Jesus Christ into his/her heart as Lord and personal Savior), thereafter, healing becomes his/her bread as a child of God. (Mark 7:27). The believer must live a life of total obedience to God and His word. Have absolute trust and implicit faith in His faithfulness and ability to fulfil all His promises. The believer must ask, in accordance with His will, to be healed. (Luke.17:19) Holy living with purity of heart is a necessary requirement. The believer must have an intimate relationship with God. He had repeatedly, declared in His word that He is our healer, so the believer must exercise absolute faith in his/her belief that God will heal him/her. (Heb.11:1).
QUESTION 4) WHAT ARE HINDERANCES TO DIVINE HEALING?
PS.66:18; MARK 6:1-6; JAMES 1:6-8.
Sin is the greatest barrier in our relationship with God, and it constitutes a great hinderance in receiving anything from God. Wherever sin exists, communication with God is absolutely impossible. God is holy and any relationship with Him must stand on a foundation of holiness. A sinful man cannot receive anything from a holy God. Another hinderance to divine healing is unbelief. “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for He that cometh to God must believe that He is, and He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him”. Unbelief and faithlessness are major hindrances in receiving anything from God. The scripture says that anyone who doubts, is a double minded person, so unstable in all his ways. Doubt is the opposite of faith, and scripture recommends faith without doubt as the only way to receive from God (James.1:6-8).
QUESTION 5) HOW DO WE APPROPRIATE GOD’S PROMISES TO OURSELVES TO BRING ABOUT HEALING AND REMAIN HEALTHY? ROM.10:10; MARK 9:23; 11:22-24; MATT.8:5-10; MARK 5:25-34.
Our understanding of who God is, is important if we must appropriate His promises to ourselves. Equally important is our knowledge of the attached conditions. The general condition is to believe that He exists. “He that cometh to Him must believe that He is,” as recommended by the scripture.
Another one is belief without doubt, that He is able to fulfil all His promises. There are generalized and specific conditions attached to our desired promise. We must understand the conditions attached to our desired promise, believe and approach God in prayers with faith. Through this process, we can appropriate God’s promises for healing and healthy living, and God in His faithfulness will heal us.
DAILY LIVING APPLICATION:
Healing and divine health is the right of God’s children. If we are God’s children, there is no reason whatsoever for us to remain in bondage of sickness and diseases. There is enough balm in Gilead for our healing. Let us take a stand in the word of God and be steadfast in our faith in God. His will for us is to remain and walk in divine health.
MEMORY VERSE:
ISAIAH 53:5
“But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed”.
DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE
MON: HEALING: A SALVATION PACKAGE.
Isa.53:3-5; Rom.4:24-25; 1 Pet.2:24.
TUE: HEALING. THE CHILDREN’S BREAD.
Mark 7:25-27; Luke 13:11-15.
WED: HEALING: GOD’S PROMISE FOR BELIEVERS.
Exod.15:26; Deut.7:15; Ps.103:3; Jer.30:17.
THU: TOTAL WELLBEING.
Exod.15:26, 23:26; Deut.7:12-15.
FRI: DIVINE HEALING: GOD’S INTERVENTION.
Luke 13:11-15.
SAT: DIVINE HEALING: GOD’S INTERVENTION
Acts 9:8-9, 11-12 & 15-18