Causes for Sickness - I
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This Chapter is the heart of the School of Divine Healing. We have seen great many healings. But our eyes have also
been on those who have not received healings, those who have been prayed for by the best ministries
in the world and still have not received their healing. It is the duty of the minister to bring healing to
God’s people (Ezekiel 34:4). God is furious with sickness. When the Messiah came, He came with a vengeance
on sickness and disease (see Isaiah 35).
When the sick take this part of the course fully, we find that the percentage of healings is in the nineties. In this chapter, you will come across many valuable insights that can set you free. The verses may be familiar to you, but you may never have though of them in the context of divine healing. For years we have sought the Lord for those who have not been healed. It is impossible for sickness to exist in the Presence of Jesus. If it does, there has to be a cause - for the curse does not come without a cause (Prov. 26:2). God’s people perish for lack of knowledge and we are exhorted to seek for understanding. Many find temporary healing in a spiritual atmosphere but find that they are attacked again very soon. A person with a deadly disease does not go to a general physician. He goes to a specialist. Jesus Christ the Great Physician, The Very Word of God, will discern between the soul and the spirit, the bone and the marrow (where the blood cells are created). As you receive it, there will be an operation of the Holy Ghost and healing will be complete and perfect. Blessed is our God! Please go back to the Introduction chapter and read it once again before you start reading this chapter. About 40 causes for sicknesses are mentioned. Some may seem to be repetitive or overlapping. But it has been done intentionally. We will now consider the causes one by one.
Before satan made his appearance in the garden of Eden in Gen.3:1, man was perfect and sinless. Sickness and disease were unknown to him. His body was made for God and not for sickness and disease. But the deliberate turning away from God by Adam and Eve brought a state of separation from God. Sin is nothing but disobedience. Everything else is a consequence that produces acts of sin. How many sick people have said that they have not done any sinful acts that could have caused their sickness. But are they walking in obedience? How many people kick against even the fundamental teachings of Christ mentioned in Hebrews 6:1,2 ! Disobedience automatically triggers a state in which the DEADLIEST DISEASE – Sin can produce varying by-products. In Deuteronomy Chapter 28 we see the blessings of obedience. From verse 15 onwards, we see that sickness is a curse or a natural consequence, judgement or justice for disobeying God. In Isaiah 59: 1,2, God says, “Behold, the LORD’S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear”. We see the connection between sin and a major debilitating illness in John 5:14. Jesus, after healing the man at the pool of Bethesda tells him, "Sin no more lest a worse thing come upon thee." The connection between sin and paralyzing diseases is also seen in the statements of Jesus in Mark 2: 9-11 when He heals the paralytic In the face of sickness and diseases, we must be aware that satan is behind it all in one way or the other. The thief, (satan) comes to steal, to kill and to destroy! He does it Indirectly Remember that generational curses can again be just plain disobedience for generations! But the stubborn power of heredity diseases is broken once a person comes under the blood of Jesus and abides in Christ. Nevertheless it is up to the individual to be on guard against spiritual or emotional ties with children of rebellion and disobedience. How often people of God blindly take the medicines that the medicine man gives! Though you place yourself in the hands of a doctor, you have a right to know about the effects of anything going into your body. The pharmaceutical industry being one of the largest in the world, one can surely expect medical lobbying in political circles. Remember that the whole world lieth in darkness and in the last days, dangerous conditions will prevail. At the inauguration of a Christian Medical Corporation in Madras, the senior-most Christian doctor on the panel, the chairman of the committee, mentioned how medical representatives have offered expensive gifts, offered to furnish his hospital, and so on. It is common knowledge that doctors receive a commission from medical laboratories for all referrals. Just remember that the doctor and medical science is not a god. Money being the major consideration there are unscrupulous elements every where who will resort to any method to make money – including seeking help from the world of the occult. (See the chapter “Medical Science and Divine Healing”). This is a new method that satan is adopting to attack the kingdom of God’s families. We are all aware of sadistic doctors who even kill patients. But in countries where there is persecution, the messengers of satan are giving instructions to their sympathizers to give wrong medication or lethal medication which will destroy vital organs slowly), to Christians and their children. Directly Satan has an army of evil emissaries. These include spirits of sickness, disease and infirmity. In Luke 13:16, satan had bound a woman with a spirit of infirmity for 18 years In John 10:10 Jesus said that the thief (satan) comes to steal, kill & destroy In Acts 10:38 we read how Jesus went about healing all those who were oppressed of the devil. Satan is the cause and propagator of both sin and sickness. When rebuking sickness, Jesus used the same harsh word that He used to rebuke evil spirits - epitimao Luke 4:35 - “And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him. And when the devil had thrown him in the midst, he came out of him, and hurt him not.” Luke 4:39 - “And he stood over her, and rebuked the fever; and it left her: and immediately she arose and ministered unto them.” In Mark 9: 25-27, Jesus attributed deafness and dumbness to the devil. As knowledge is increasing on the face of the earth, many doctors are realising the importance of the condition of the emotions and the mind in the healing of their patients. But, the Word of God already has much to say about this. In 3 John 2, we read “...prosper and be in health even as thy soul doth prosper”. Health, which is what most Christians need, is directly connected to the condition of the soul! Prosperity of the soul is the Lordship of Jesus Christ and the kingdom of God ruling in our souls. Rom. 14:17 tells us that, “... the kingdom of God is Righteousness, Peace and Joy in the Holy Ghost.” If we fail to walk in the righteousness, peace and joy imparted or manifested by the Holy Ghost, then the kingdom of God is not having pre eminence in our lives, leaving us open to ill health. Consider these verses about Joy. Nehemiah 8:10 - “...the joy of the Lord is your strength.” John 16:24 “....ask and receive that your joy may be full.” I John 3:22 “And whatsoever (includes joy) we ask, we receive of Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight.”. This is a sly evil that slowly but surely rots the bones. Proverbs 14:30 says, “A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness of the bones”. God gives us beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness (Isaiah 61:3). But a heart without joy, a heart that is filled with despair constantly, evokes sickness. Proverbs 17:22 says, “A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones”. That is bone marrow depression for you! Isn’t it amazing that a joyful heart is like a medicine? Have we taken enough of this medicine called "Joy"? Doctors also find it easier to treat a cheerful person than a gloomy person. Anger is pure Proverbs 29:22 says, “An angry man stirreth up strife, and a furious man aboundeth in transgression.” and James 3 16 tells us that where there is strife, there is every evil work. Every evil work surely includes sickness. A wise old man once remarked that food eaten on an angry stomach will do more harm than good! We are aware of the evil around us but always meditating on the evil around us is a negative attitude that is only going to affect us. What is the use of wanting to know every detail about every evil around you, unless you know and have the power to change it? This information age is bound to bombard our five senses with the open and subtle evil that is around us. Unless a believer knows how to guard his five senses, which are like five gates, he is in danger. The Bible has some powerful things to say about our thinking. Proverbs 23:7 teaches us that as a man thinks in his heart so is he. Every individual has faced the problem of conquering thoughts. Proverbs 4:23 teaches us to keep a watch over our heart or spirit, because out of it flows the issues or forces of life or what ever it contains. Whatever is constantly in our mind or before the five senses have the tendency to drop down into our spirit: and in a time of need, only what is in our heart will pop out Psychiatrists have discovered that thought patterns are directly connected to the chemical reactions in our body. But, Bless God who has given us weapons to control every thought! 2 Cor. 10:4 says, "For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds; Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; and having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled. Philippians 4:8 exhorts us about what we are to think about. “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things”. Proverbs 16:3 assures us, “Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established.” Worry makes a person weary. Worrying is not a sign of responsibility. Worry is actually unbelief in the Father’s love and care. Worry is an indicator of poor faith. II Cor 7:10 warns us that the sorrow of this world worketh death. Can you dream of a worry free life? Yes, we can imagine how much better our lives would be without the curse of worries. God knows what worry does to a person. How it slows him down and chokes him in all areas of life. Many major heart and mental illness can be traced back to worry. Remember that more than what you eat, it is what is eating you that could be the cause of many health problems. The cares of this world tend to choke out the living, life giving Word of God which we receive (Mark 4:19). Jesus taught us not to take anxious thought for the next day (read Matt. 6:28 – 34). In 1 Peter 5:7, we are exhorted: “Casting all your care upon him; for He careth for you". 1 Cor. 6:19 tells us that our body is the temple of the Holy Ghost. We have all abused our bodies at some time in one way or the other. We have noted 5 ways in which the temple of the Holy Ghost is abused. a) Over eating Gluttony is plain sin. You may say, “Oh! I am not a glutton!” But, wait a moment! It is amazing how some know so much about different kinds of food and cuisine. We must accept the fact that many Christians spend more time eating than praying. Check out how many hours you are spending a week at the dining table and compare that with the hours you spend, feeding the soul. In the Old Testament, gluttony was considered such a terrible sin that kept people away from God that it was punishable by death (Deut. 21: 20, 21). b) Lack of rest or overwork In Phil. 2: 25, 27& 30, we read of Epaphroditus who, “Because for the work of Christ, he was nigh unto death, to supply your lack of service towards me.” Epaphroditus' overwork was for a great cause, for the kingdom of God. But from this, we get a clue that overwork can lead to death. Hard work and diligent work is a virtue while overwork can be deathly. Each one has to discern for himself about rest and overwork in relation to their calling in life. Remember that oppressive overwork is a part of the curse (Gen. 3: 18:19). In some pagan cultures, work is a god. c) Wrong food While we are to thankfully eat what is set before us, there can be a desire to eat foods that are plain junk! Would we pour any kind of oil into our automobile engine? Would you appreciate it if the man at the gas station fills your petrol engine with diesel? Wrong combination of foods taken at the same time can also cause havoc. Paul cautioned young Timothy to take some nourishing grape juice for his stomach condition. (1 Tim 5:23). While we are not to be over concerned about eating, we should use wisdom in what goes into our body, the temple of the Holy Ghost. d) Uncleanness In 2 Cor. 7: 1, we are warned, “let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” This verse in its context is purely referring to the spiritual. But we can be cautioned that unclean food habits, lack of hygiene, questionable foods and beverages can lead to “filthiness of the flesh”. It would be good to remember that Heaven is a clean, clean place! e) Irregular food Common sense and experience tell us that food eaten at irregular times is unhealthy. We just have to remember that our body is the temple of the Holy Ghost and we have a clear warning in 1 Cor. 3: 17, “If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.” 
This topic is a large one, and we have split it into 3 sections to enhance speed and readability. Please click here for the second section under 'Causes for Sickness'.
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