“The strong are not always vigorous, the wise not always ready, the brave not always courageous, and the joyous not always happy”– CH Spurgeon

Physical healing is not the ultimate goal of the ailing Christian, but  understanding we were purchased with a price we are not our own. We gave away our rights for our life, on our terms that Christ may be Lord and do as He sees fit with us to GLORIFY Himself through us. {1 Cor 6:13-20}. If healing be part of it so be it, but what if it is not then what? Is it because of our unbelief, lack of faith? Paul raised a man from the dead, but could not heal himself or Epaphroditus.{Phil 2}. Healing of the body is God’s prerogative! 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!

 

Let me share some verses that may be of benefit TO YOU, or THROUGH You to benefit others! 

Indeed below are some verses on ETERNAL PERSPECTIVE in your illness, suffering…

1. – YOU ARE NOT YOUR OWN;

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

2. – CHRIST MAGNIFIED;

Paul IN PRISON wrote  his “statement of faith” as it were, in difficult circumstances…

“Christ MAGNIFIED… whether by life or death in MY BODY”-Phil 1:20

3. – FOR OTHERS BENEFIT

Those who have been CRUSHED, COMFORTED, are COMMISSIONED – TO COMFORT 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

4. -SUFFERING FOR CHRIST IS A GIFT;

There is a suffering Peter speaks of that is  a result of our own sinfulness but he also speaks of a suffering “according to THE WILL OF GOD.”So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit{Entrust,} 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 “gift’s” in this verse are, “the Gift of Salvation” and “the GIFT OF  SUFFERING For Christ sake!”

5. – FOR THE GLORY OF GOD;

Peter asked about John, the Resurrected Christ, said, in John 21-“…18 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?”

6. GRACE TO SUFFER- STRENGTH IN WEAKNESS MANIFESTED;

With the resignation of our life for our sake on our terms in this world and entrusting our self into His care, under His authority, we can see pain, suffering in a new light. It is not that we do not ask for healing. Paul asked three times for the thorn to be removed and three times the LORD declined and spoke about His GRACE been made sufficient for him. Paul gladly accepted and said- “He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for POWER is perfected IN WEAKNESS.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather BOAST about my weaknesses, SO THAT THE POWER OF CHRIST MAY DWELL IN ME. Therefore I am WELL CONTENT with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, FOR CHRIST’S SAKE; for WHEN I AM WEAK, THEN I AM STRONG.”- 2 COR 12-9:-10.

MANY OF US ARE TOO BIG TO BE USED BECAUSE WE ARE NOT WEAK ENOUGH TO BE USED.

7. COMMIT YOURSELF TO A FAITHFUL GOD AND CONTINUE TO DO GOOD;

  “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. God is faithful in suffering for the Christian to Glorify Him in it. The response to suffering according to God’s will is two fold in this verse

A. Commit yourself to a faithful God. We can “commit” ourselves to  God who is Creator and who is Faithful! He has all the power and He is reliable, trustworthy  amidst suffering!

B. Continue to DO GOOD. Continue to do those  things which are “good”- beneficial to the cause of Glorifying God and the spiritual well being of…others!

IF GOD WISHES TO HEAL SO BE IT, BUT  FOR  THE CHRISTIAN THERE IS A…

1. REALIZING OUR BODY – IS FOR THE LORD

2. FOR OTHERS BENEFIT – OUR OPPORTUNITIES TO COMFORT OTHERS WHO ARE CRUSHED

3. MAGNIFY JESUS CHRIST WITH OUR BODY WHETHER BY LIFE OR BY DEATH.

4. SUFFERING IS A GIFT FOR CHRIST’S SAKE

5. FOR THE GLORY OF GOD

6. SUFFICIENT GRACE

7. COMMIT YOURSELF TO GOD AND CONTINUE TO DO GOOD

THE GOAL FOR THE CHRISTIAN IS ULTIMATELY NOT PHYSICAL HEALING- IT IS GOD CENTERED AND OTHERS CENTERED PRIMARILY… HIS GLORY, THEIR ETERNAL BENEFIT!

What if God chooses not to heal?

That is HIS Business. Does that mean your life is of no significance? Does it mean you cannot pray? Others cannot benefit? Christ cannot be magnified? God cannot be glorified? Of course not! There are truths we “wrestle ” with, there are truths we REJOICE IN. There is ONE we REST IN, irrespective of our circumstances, for this is not our final Abode, we will go and see Him and be with Him for eternity-{Philippians 1:23}. Now is our moment to live to Glorify Him in our bodies. In your weakness, rest in the fact your life is not a waste. God has not made a mistake. God is intimately involved putting Himself on display to you and through you. Bottom Line- CHRIST MAGNIFIED whether by life or death in  MY BODY!

What comfort is found in Him, His Word, His SUSTAINING SUFFICIENT GRACE,- to MAGNIFY JESUS CHRIST whether by life or death with the body God has given us. That is TRUE HOPE. REST in Him! Your life is counting! “Whatever you Do, Do ALL things for the Glory of God.”- This includes illness, and suffering. Do them well, with ETERNAL PERSPECTIVE… Magnify Christ !

APPLICATION;

PRINT OUT THE VERSES WITH THE BULLET HEADS ABOVE… READ, RE READ, THINK ON THEM, MEMORIZE THEM,  FOR THE DAY WILL COME WHEN YOU WILL NEED THEM TO COMFORT, STRENGTHEN IF NOT YOURSELF, THEN OTHERS. You do not wish to be a “Job friend” but a Jesus Friend who can help one of His who is in the furnace to know thee is HOPE IN HIM… to “MAGNIFY CHRIST, whether by life or by death in my body.” Above are some verses to help to Focus on How  this can be done and Why it CAN BE DONE amidst suffering and or illness… with an ETERNAL PERSPECTIVE…