Physical Healing is not the ultimate goal of the ailing Christian but exalting, and honoring of our LORD Jesus Christ! Paul put it this way “…so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.”-{Phil 1:20}. As a follower of our LORD Jesus, it is the understanding we were purchased with a price we are not our own. We gave away our rights for our life, on our terms away through repentance towards God and faith in Jesus Christ who is LORD, to do as He sees fit with us to GLORIFY Himself through us. {1 Cor 6:13-20}.

If healing is part of it so be it, but what if it is not, then what? Is it because of our unbelief or lack of faith? Some would have you believe that every illness is so, yet Paul raised a man from the dead, but could not heal Epaphroditus. -{Phil 2:25-28}. Was that due to Paul’s lack of faith or Epaphroditus? There is no indication from the passage that it was! Timothy was “frequently ill,” was it because of deficient faith? Nothing in the text indicates it was.-{1 Timothy 5:23}

Healing of the body is God’s prerogative!

He does what will glorify Him and He uses even suffering and illness, and indeed all difficulties in life to bring good out of it through conforming us to the image of Christ which is His goal- “Oh, my dear children! I feel as if I’m going through labor pains for you again, and they will continue until Christ is fully developed in your lives.”-{Gal 4:19 NLT}.”He is the One we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ.”-{Col 1:28 NLT} Also Please Read Romans 8:28-29

He does not exist to serve us. But we for Him and His glory. -{Isaiah 43:7}. This world is not our home nor should we see it as anything but an assignment by God for God. There are truths to comfort, stabilize and cause the heart to soar and be strengthened!

Indeed below are some verses on ETERNAL PERSPECTIVE in your illness, suffering to REMEMBER and SPEAK  to yourself such as...

1. – I AM NOT MY OWN;

 “The BODY is…for the Lord.”- {1 Cor 6:13.}

“You are not your own; For you have been bought for a price: therefore glorify God in your body.”-{1 Cor 6;19-20}

2. – I AM NOT ON MY OWN

” for He has said, “I will never [under any circumstances] desert you [nor give you up nor leave you without support, nor will I in any degree leave you helpless], nor will I forsake or let you down or relax My hold on you [assuredly not]!”-{Hebrews 13:6 Amplified Bible}

3.- I CAN LIVE TO MAGNIFY CHRIST;

 Paul IN PRISON wrote his statement of faith in difficult circumstances…”Christ MAGNIFIED whether by life or death in MY BODY”-Phil 1:20

4. – I CAN LIVE TO BENEFIT OTHERS;

 “…who comforts us in all our affliction, SO THAT we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.”- 2 Cor 1:4.

5. – I CAN PRAY FOR OTHERS;

” My fellow prisoner Aristarchus sends you his greetings, as does Mark, the cousin of Barnabas. (You have received instructions about him; if he comes to you, welcome him.) …Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured.”-{Colossians 4:10,12}

6. -I UNDERSTAND MY SUFFERING IS NOT IN VAIN;

“Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance;  perseverance, character; and character, hope.  And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.”-{Romans 5:3-5} God uses suffering in the Christian life to bring about, produce, perseverance, character, and hope! Spiritual development! Suffering is not wasted in God’s hand!

 There is a suffering Peter speaks of that is a result of our own sinfulness but he also speaks of suffering “according to THE WILL OF GOD.” “So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.”- 1 Peter 4:19. Paul wrote in Phil 1:27, “It has been GRANTED {the word is GRACE from- GIFTED] not only to believe but also to SUFFER For Christ’s sake.” The two “gifts” in this verse are, the Gift of Salvation and the GIFT OF  SUFFERING For Christ’s sake!

7. – I HAVE HIS  POWER AND PROMISES TO ENCOURAGE AND STRENGTHEN ME

“His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.”-{ 2Peter 1:3,4}

8. – I CAN GLORIFY GOD IN LIFE OR DEATH;

“…whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.“-{1 Cpr 10:31}

 Peter asked about John, the Resurrected Christ, said, in John 21-“Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were younger, you used to gird yourself and walk wherever you wished; but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands and someone else will gird you, and bring you where you do not wish to go.” Now this He said, signifying by what kind of death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He *said to him, “Follow Me!” Peter, turning around, *saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them; the one who also had leaned back on His bosom at the supper and said, “Lord, who is the one who betrays You?” So Peter seeing him *said to Jesus, “Lord, and what about this man?”  Jesus *said to him, “If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow Me!” Therefore this saying went out among the brethren that that disciple would not die; yet Jesus did not say to him that he would not die, but only, “If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you? “-{John 21:18-}.

9- I CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST WHO STRENGTHENS ME!

“…I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need.  I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.”-{Philippians 4:12-13}

 

God deals with His servants as He chooses, for His Glory. Ours to Glorify Him and support and help one another. And this we can by the empowering of the indwelling Holy Spirit and in submission to His Word. 

You can Glorify God and help others whether HE chooses to heal or not! Be encouraged your life can have eternal fruit!

God bless

Aidan

 

{From The message,”What If GOD Chooses Not To Heal You Or A loved One?”}