SICKNESS

OBEDIENCE TO YHVH IS EXCELLENT PREVENTIVE MEDICINE.

“If you will listen carefully to the voice of Adonai your YHVH and do what is right in His sight, obeying His Commands and Laws, then I will not make you suffer the diseases I sent on the Egyptians; for I am Adonai Who heals you.” {Exodus 15:26} YHVH promised that if the people obeyed Him, they would be free from the diseases that plagued the Egyptians. Little did they know that many of the moral Laws He later gave them, were designed to keep them free from sickness. For example, following YHVH’s Law against prostitution would keep them free of venereal disease. YHVH’s Laws for us are often designed to keep us from harm. Men and women are complex beings. Our physical, emotional, and spiritual lives are intertwined. Modern medicine is now acknowledging what these Laws assumed. If we want YHVH to protect us, we need to submit to His directions for living.

THE POWER TO HEAL SICKNESS IS AN AREA IN WHICH WE CAN TRUST MOSHIACH.

“Yeshua travelled throughout Galilee teaching in the synagogues, preaching everywhere the Good News about the Kingdom. And He healed people who had every kind of sickness and disease. News about Him spread far beyond the borders of Galilee so that the sick was soon coming to be healed from as far away as Syria. And whatever their illness and pain, or if they were possessed by demons, or were epileptics, or were paralyzed -- He healed them all.” {Matthew 4:23-24} Yeshua was teaching, preaching, and healing. These were the three main aspects of His ministry. Teaching shows Yeshua’ concern for understanding; preaching shows His concern for commitment; and healing shows His concern for wholeness. His miracles of healing authenticated His teaching and preaching, proving that He truly was from YHVH.

PHYSICAL SICKNESS CAN BE A REMINDER OF SPIRITUAL SICKNESS.

Yeshua preached the gospel -- the Good News-to everyone who wanted to hear it. The gospel is that the Kingdom of heaven has come, that YHVH is with us, and that he cares for us. The Moshiach can heal us, not just of physical sickness, but of spiritual sickness as well. There’s no sin or problem too great or too small for Him to handle. Yeshua’ words were good news because they offered freedom, hope, peace of heart, and eternal life with YHVH.

MOSHIACH DISPLAYS HIS POWER IN HEALING SICKNESSES OF ALL KINDS.

“Yeshua said to the Roman officer, ‘go on home. What you have believed has happened.’ And the young servant was healed that same hour. When Yeshua arrived at Peter’s house, Peter’s mother-in-Law was in bed with a high fever. But when Yeshua touched her hand, the fever left her. Then she got up and prepared a meal for Him.” {Matthew 8:13-15} Through these events, Matthew continues to show Yeshua’ Kingly nature. Through a single touch, Yeshua healed {8:3-15}; when He spoke a single word, evil spirits fled His presence {8:16}. Yeshua has authority over all evil powers and all earthly disease. He also has power and authority to conquer sin. Sickness and evil are consequences of living in a fallen world. But in the future, when YHVH removes all sin, there will be no more sickness and death. Yeshua’ healing miracles were a taste of what the whole world will one day experience in YHVH’s Kingdom.

HOW DOES YHVH RESPOND TO OUR SICKNESS?

Psalm 41:3 – “Adonai nurses them when they are sick and eases their pain and discomfort.” Philippians 2:27 – “He surely was ill; in fact, he almost died. But YHVH had mercy on him - and also on me, so that I would not have such unbearable sorrow.” Matthew 4:23-24 – “Yeshua travelled throughout Galilee teaching in the synagogues, preaching everywhere the Good News about the Kingdom. And He healed people who had every kind of sickness and disease. News about Him spread far beyond the borders of Galilee so that the sick was soon coming to be healed from as far away as Syria. And whatever their illness and pain, or if they were possessed by demons, or were epileptics, or were paralyzed-he healed them all.” Matthew 15:29-31 – “Yeshua returned to the Sea of Galilee and climbed a hill and sat down. A vast crowd brought Him the lame, blind, crippled, mute, and many others with physical difficulties, and they laid them before Yeshua. And He healed them all. The crowd was amazed! Those who hadn’t been able to speak were talking, the crippled were made well, the lame were walking around, and those who had been blind could see again! And they praised the YHVH of Israel.” Mark 1:32-34 – “That evening at sunset, many sick and demon-possessed people were brought to Yeshua. And a huge crowd of people from all over Capernaum gathered outside the door to watch. So, Yeshua healed great numbers of sick people who had many different kinds of diseases, and he ordered many demons to come out of their victims. But because they knew who he was, he refused to allow the demons to speak.” Matthew 10:1 – “Yeshua called His twelve disciples to Him and gave them authority to cast out evil spirits and to heal every kind of disease and illness.” Acts 3:12-16 – “Peter saw his opportunity and addressed the crowd. ‘People of Israel,’ he said, ‘what is so astounding about this? And why look at us as though we had made this man walk by our own power and godliness? For it is the YHVH of Abraham, the YHVH of Isaac, the YHVH of Jacob, the YHVH of all our ancestors who has brought glory to His Son Yeshua by doing this. This is the same Yeshua whom you handed over and rejected before Pilate, despite Pilate’s decision to release Him. You rejected this Holy, Righteous One and instead demanded the release of a murderer. You killed the Author of life, but YHVH raised Him to life. And we are witnesses of this fact! The Name of Yeshua has healed this man -- and you know how lame he was before. Faith in Yeshua’s Name has caused this healing before your very eyes.’” Matthew 8:17 -- This fulfilled the Word of Adonai through Isaiah, who said, ‘He took our sicknesses and removed our diseases.’” Revelation 21:4 – “He will remove all of their sorrows, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. For the old world and its evils are gone forever.” --- Our compassionate, merciful YHVH has full authority over all sickness. He can heal whomever He chooses. He can grant His authority to heal to whomever He chooses. Eventually, He will remove all sickness and suffering from all of His children for eternity. Sometimes He chooses not to heal a person, even a devout believer. We do not understand why, but someday we will understand.

HOW SHOULD WE RESPOND IN TIMES OF PERSONAL SICKNESS?

Psalm 103:2-3 -- Praise Adonai, I tell myself, and never forget the good things He does for me. He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases.” --- We should praise Adonai for His ability to forgive our sins and heal our diseases. We should praise Him even if He chooses not to heal us.

James 5:14 -- Are any among you sick? They should call for the elders of the church and have them pray over them, anointing them with oil in the Name of Adonai.” 2 Corinthians 12:8-10 – “Three different times I begged Adonai to take it away. Each time he said, ‘My gracious favour is all you need. My power works best in your weakness.’ So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of the Moshiach may work through me. Since I know it is all for the Moshiach’s good, I am quite content with my weaknesses and with insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” Proverbs 17:22 – “A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person’s strength.” --- We should ask Adonai for healing and be content with His decision.

Psalm 73:26 -- My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but YHVH remains the strength of my heart; He is mine forever.” 1 Corinthians 15:43 – “Our bodies now disappoint us, but when they are raised, they will be full of glory. They are weak now, but when they are raised, they will be full of power.” --- Regardless of the condition of our health, whether we are well or sick, we can rejoice that YHVH faithfully remains our strength. Our frail earthly bodies will one day be gloriously transformed for eternity.

HOW CAN WE MINISTER TO THE SICK?

Psalm 35:13-14 – “When they were ill, I grieved for them. I even fasted and prayed for them, but my prayers returned unanswered. I was sad, as though they were my friends or family, as if I were grieving for my own mother.” James 5:14-15 – “Are any among you sick? They should call for the elders of the church and have them pray over them, anointing them with oil in the Name of Adonai. And their prayer offered in faith will heal the sick, and Adonai will make them well. And anyone who has committed sins will be forgiven.” We can pray for those who are sick.

John 5:7 – “‘I can’t, sir,’ the sick man said, ‘for I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred up. While I am trying to get there, someone else always gets in ahead of me.’” Mark 2:3-5 – “Four men arrived carrying a paralyzed man on a mat. They couldn’t get to Yeshua through the crowd, so they dug through the clay roof above His head. Then they lowered the sick man on his mat, right down in front of Yeshua. Seeing their faith, Yeshua said to the paralyzed man, ‘My son, your sins are forgiven.’” --- We can help the sick receive healing.

Galatians 4:13-14 – “Surely you remember that I was sick when I first brought you the Good News of the Moshiach. But even though my sickness was revolting to you, you did not reject me and turn me away. No, you took me in and cared for me as though I were an angel from YHVH or even the Moshiach Yeshua Himself.” Luke 10:33-34, 36-37 – “‘A despised Samaritan came along, and when he saw the man, he felt deep pity. Kneeling beside him, the Samaritan soothed his wounds with medicine and bandaged them. Then he put the man on his own donkey and took him to an inn, where he took care of him… Now which of these three would you say was a neighbour to the man who was attacked by bandits?’” Yeshua asked. The man replied, ‘The one who showed him mercy.’ Then Yeshua said, ‘Yes, now go and do the same.’” Matthew 25:36 – “I was naked, and you gave Me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for Me. I was in prison, and you visited Me.” --- We can meet the physical needs of the sick.

WHY DOES YHVH HEAL SOME AND NOT OTHERS?

Psalm 103:2-3 – “Praise Adonai, I tell myself, and never forget the good things He does for me. He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases.” Matthew 9:35 – “Yeshua travelled through all the cities and villages of that area, teaching in the synagogues and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom. And wherever He went, He healed people of every sort of disease and illness.” Luke 5:12-13 – “In one of the villages, Yeshua met a man with an advanced case of leprosy. When the man saw Yeshua, he fell to the ground, face down in the dust, begging to be healed. ‘Adonai,’ he said, ‘if You want to, You can make me well again.’ Yeshua reached out and touched the man. ‘I want to,’ he said. ‘Be healed!’ And instantly the leprosy disappeared.” John 9:3, 7 – “‘It was not because of his sins or his parents’ sins,’ Yeshua answered. ‘He was born blind so the power of YHVH could be seen in him.’ …He told him, ‘Go and wash in the pool of Siloam’ {Siloam means Sent}. So, the man went and washed, and came back seeing!” John 11:4-6 – When Yeshua heard about it He said, ‘Lazarus’s sickness will not end in death. No, it is for the glory of YHVH. I, the Son of YHVH, will receive glory from this.’” --- Although Yeshua loved Martha, Mary, and Lazarus, He stayed where He was for the next two days and did not go to them.

Psalm 119:71 – “The suffering You sent was good for me, for it taught me to pay attention to Your principles.” Romans 5:3 – “We can rejoice too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they are good for us -- they help us learn to endure.” 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 – “Even though I have received wonderful revelations from YHVH. But to keep me from getting puffed up, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from getting proud. Three different times I begged Adonai to take it away. Each time He said, ‘My gracious favour is all you need. My power works best in your weakness.’ So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of the Moshiach may work through me. Since I know it is all for the Moshiach’s good, I am quite content with my weaknesses and with insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” --- YHVH possesses the ability to heal all diseases. He heals, or does not heal, for YHVH’s glory and for other reasons we cannot always comprehend right now. YHVH is sovereign. Whatever He does is right, even though from our earthly perspective we may think it is not.

ARE THERE WAYS TO AVOID SICKNESS?

2 Kings 13:14 – “When Elisha was in his last illness, King Jehoash of Israel visited him and wept over him. ‘My father! My father! The chariots and charioteers of Israel!’” he cried.” Job 2:3, 7 – “Then Adonai asked Satan, ‘Have you noticed my servant, Job? He is the finest man in all the earth-a man of complete integrity. He fears YHVH and will have nothing to do with evil. And he has maintained his integrity, even though you persuaded me to harm him without cause.’ …So, Satan left Adonai’s presence, and he struck Job with a terrible case of boils from head to foot.” Exodus 15:26 – “‘If you will listen carefully to the voice of Adonai your YHVH and do what is right in His sight, obeying His Commands and Laws, then I will not make you suffer the diseases I sent on the Egyptians; for I am Adonai Who heals you.’” Exodus 23:25-26 – “You must serve only Adonai your YHVH. If you do, I will bless you with food and water, and I will keep you healthy. There will be no miscarriages or infertility among your people, and I will give you long, full lives.” Psalm 38:2-3 – “Your arrows have struck deep, and Your blows are crushing me. Because of Your anger, my whole body is sick; my health is broken because of my sins.” Acts 12:23 – “Instantly, an angel of Adonai struck Herod with a sickness, because he accepted the people’s worship instead of giving the glory to YHVH. So, he was consumed with worms and died.” 1 Corinthians 6:18 – “Run away from sexual sin! No other sin so clearly affects the body as this one does. For sexual immorality is a sin against your own body.” 1 Corinthians 11:27-30 – “If anyone eats this bread or drinks this cup of Adonai unworthily, that person is guilty of sinning against the body and the blood of Adonai. That is why you should examine yourself before eating the bread and drinking from the cup. For if you eat the bread or drink the cup unworthily, not honouring the Body of the Moshiach, you are eating and drinking YHVH’s judgment upon yourself. That is why many of you are weak and sick and some have even died.” --- Sickness can be avoided through obedience to YHVH and His Word.

Exodus 34:21 – “Six days are set aside for work, but on the Shabbat day you must rest, even during the seasons of ploughing and harvest.” Exodus 20:8-11 – “Remember to observe the Shabbat day by keeping it holy. Six days a week are set apart for your daily duties and regular work, but the seventh day is a day of rest dedicated to Adonai your YHVH. On that day no one in your household may do any kind of work. This includes you, your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, your livestock, and any foreigners living among you. For in six days Adonai made the heavens, the earth, the sea, and everything in them; then He rested on the seventh day. That is why Adonai blessed the Shabbat day and set it apart as holy.” --- Sickness can be avoided by maintaining a balance between work and rest.

Ephesians 5:29 – “No one hates his own body but lovingly cares for it, just as the Moshiach cares for His body, which is the church.” Acts 27:34 – “‘Please eat something now for your own good. For not a hair of your heads will perish.’” 1 Timothy 4:7-8 – “Do not waste time arguing over godless ideas and old wives’ tales. Spend your time and energy in training yourself for spiritual fitness. Physical exercise has some value, but spiritual exercise is much more important, for it promises a reward in both this life and the next.” --- Sickness can be avoided by physically caring for our bodies.

Leviticus 14:54-57 – “‘These are the instructions for dealing with the various kinds of contagious skin disease and infectious mildew, whether in clothing, in a house, in a swollen area of skin, in a skin rash, or in a shiny patch of skin. These instructions must be followed when dealing with any contagious skin disease or infectious mildew, to determine when something is ceremonially clean or unclean.’” Deuteronomy 23:13 – “Each of you must have a spade as part of your equipment. Whenever you relieve yourself, you must dig a hole with the spade and cover the excrement.” --- Sickness can be avoided through personal hygiene.