Last week I wrote about my experience with Jennifer who was caught in the hyper-faith teaching and believed she had ‘divine health.’ This is an example of how we can get ahead of God’s timeline. Divine health awaits us as part of the final phase of salvation—glorification. This takes place after death when we enter into His presence for eternity. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will exist no longer; grief, crying, and pain will exist no longer, because the previous things have passed away (Rev 21:4). Even though divine health awaits us, that’s not to say God doesn’t heal in this life. Healings are recorded all through Scripture and are prominent in Jesus’ ministry. A miraculous healing is when God overrules nature laws and restores a person to health. I’ve witnessed this numerous times especially in third world countries. Yet, this is not the only means He utilizes to heal.
God built into our bodies nature healing. If we get cut, a protein in our blood called fibrin begins its work. It clots the blood and weaves what we call a scab. If we get an infection, the white blood cells begin fighting against the foreign bacteria. This is all by God’s marvelous design of humans. A second means is medical science. God also gives knowledge and wisdom to doctors. They simply cooperate with the laws of God aiding in the recovery through care and medicine. Yet, it is still the LORD who heals. One physician said, “I tend, but God heals.”
There are several other means, but God also may choose NOT to heal. A statement I heard years ago has been helpful to me, “It is always God’s will to heal, but it may not be in His wisdom to heal.” The Apostle Paul is a prime example of this. To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. v8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. v9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Co 12:7-9). Evidence both in Scripture and from external history, points to the likelihood that Paul suffered from a debilitating eye disease he contracted in Galatia.
The LORD used Paul on numerous occasions to heal others, but in His wisdom God perceived it best to leave him with this weakness. Paul himself acknowledges the fact that he might have otherwise become conceited or arrogant because of all the spiritual revelations even being caught up to the third Heaven. Yet, instead of being defeated by his infirmity, Paul embraced it. Therefore I am content with weaknesses . . . for whenever I am weak, then I am strong (v10). The LORD had given Paul the solution—His grace was all he needed. In fact, Christ’s power was made perfect in Paul’s limitation.
Paul could not merely depend on himself and his revelations. He had to trust in the power of Christ working in and through him. If God chooses to leave us with a weakness whether it is a physical infirmity or some other human frailty, He also assures us His grace is more than enough to make up the difference.
When with lived in Africa, I taught a week long seminar on the Holy Spirit in Zimbabwe. Hundreds had come to this conference. I was burning up with fever and extremely weak probably from malaria. I was scheduled for two sessions during the day and one in the evening. Each time, my wife would help me to the church with me wondering how I would be able to accomplish this task. The moment I stood at the podium and opened my mouth, I felt wonderful. When the session ended, I could barely walk back to our truck, again burning up with fever. I’d go back to bed until the next session—day after day. This particular seminar had more results than any I have ever taught. I provided the weakness, He gave the strength. This has been a powerful lesson to me since then. Every time I’m faced with my weaknesses, my human frailties, or my limitations, like Paul, I know His grace is enough.
Sustaining Word for the Week:
Expect healing when you pray, but if it doesn’t happen, be assured of His grace and His power whatever weakness you have.