## Divine Healing, Part 2

## Isaiah 53:5

Last week we began to look at what the Word of God says concerning the death of Christ and physical healing. Two facts that we want to emphasize are:

1) God is able to and will heal.

2) Christ died on the cross for our sins not for our sicknesses.

Today we want to consider the matter of physical healing and the will of God. Is it God's will for all believers to be healed of physical infirmities? Listen to some preachers and that is what you will hear. The result is confusion and disappointment on the part of those who hear and accept this teaching.

II. Physical Healing and the Will of God.

A. The claims of so-called divine healers.

1. That it is always God's will to heal.

2. The basis of this false teaching stems from the misinterpretation of Scripture concerning the death of Christ.

3. In spite of these claims thousands of men and women of God have prayed in all faith and sincerity and have not been healed.

4. As we discussed last week, even the so-called healers get sick and die!

B. The example of the apostle Paul.

1. Note: 2Co. 12:1-10

2. Paul tells of the "thorn in the flesh" and his prayers to God to remove it.

3. He records the Lord's answer and also his understanding of why God chose not to remove this physical infirmity.

4. "...lest I should be exalted above measure." "...most gladly therefore will I rather glory in mine infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me."

C. Epaphroditus is another example.

1. Note: Philippians 2:25-30

2. He is described as a devoted servant of the Lord.

3. One thing marked him, he was very sick...even nigh unto death.

4. The word of his illness spread from Rome to Philippi and many saints prayed for him.

5. There is no mention of a healer or that he is rebuked for his lack of faith.

6. God healed him, but in His time; he had remained sick for quite a while.

7. He is an example of God's healing in His own time.

D. Timothy is yet another example.

1. Note: 1 Timothy 5:23.

2. He had stomach trouble.

3. Please note what Paul's advice to this young preacher was. "Quit drinking the water, use a little wine for your infirmities."

4. This comes from a man whom God had used to heal many by the laying on of hands.

5. Paul does not direct Timothy to claim deliverance because of Calvary, but to use a natural means to effect a stomach cure.

E. Trophimus is another example.

1. When Paul was on his second missionary journey Trophimus was with him. cf Acts 20:4

2. As Paul closes his second letter to Timothy he mentions that he left Trophimus at Miletum sick !

3. He was apparently too sick to continue on the journey.

4. If it is always God's will to heal the believer, then why would Paul leave this sick brother in Miletum?

Once again, I want to restate that I believe that God can and does heal folks of their physical infirmities. However, to say that it is always God's will to heal is to deny the testimony of these Scriptures.