The Gifts of the Holy Spirit: - Vital Christianity
The Gifts of the Holy Spirit: - Vital Christianity
The Gifts of the Holy Spirit: - Vital Christianity
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145<br />
Since suffering is so prevalent in Scripture some have argued that <strong>the</strong>re is a distinction<br />
between suffering and sickness. Suffering is something external to us which comes as <strong>the</strong> result <strong>of</strong><br />
our following Christ. In <strong>the</strong> case <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> thorn in <strong>the</strong> flesh, it is argued, this is what Paul suffered<br />
and which we may expect to suffer as well. Sickness and disease, on <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r hand, are a part <strong>of</strong><br />
<strong>the</strong> Fall and <strong>the</strong> curse which have now been overcome by Christ.<br />
Such a distinction cannot be made biblically. <strong>The</strong> biblical writers simply did not make neat<br />
distinctions. In both <strong>the</strong> Old Testament and New Testament <strong>the</strong> most common word for sickness<br />
is <strong>the</strong> word that is also used for weakness. Usually only <strong>the</strong> context tells us what kind <strong>of</strong><br />
“weakness” is meant.<br />
<strong>The</strong> reason why <strong>the</strong>re is no etymological distinction is that all evil is seen to be <strong>the</strong> result <strong>of</strong><br />
<strong>the</strong> Fall, not just sickness. And God delivers us from all kinds <strong>of</strong> evil, not just sickness. But this<br />
does not mean He always delivers us from evil. Even though Paul was hindered by Satan from<br />
returning to <strong>The</strong>ssalonica (I <strong>The</strong>ss. 2:18), <strong>the</strong>re is no hint that he or God “failed.” Sickness, <strong>the</strong>n,<br />
is not some unique part <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Fall which we are delivered from as we demand God by faith.<br />
Sickness is a part <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> whole <strong>of</strong> evil and fallenness.<br />
<strong>The</strong>re are many reasons for sickness.<br />
1. TO BRING GLORY TO GOD (Jn. 9:1-3; Job). Even death can bring glory to God<br />
(Jn. 21:19). Emily Gardiner Neal was an agnostic reporter who determined to expose <strong>the</strong><br />
myth <strong>of</strong> healing. But in <strong>the</strong> process <strong>of</strong> her research she found Christ. She writes, “We are<br />
<strong>of</strong>ten led astray by <strong>the</strong> false assumption that God can be glorified only by a witness <strong>of</strong><br />
physical healing. <strong>The</strong> truth is that some <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> most effective Christian witnesses I know<br />
are those who are lying flat on <strong>the</strong>ir backs expectantly waiting <strong>the</strong>ir healing by God’s<br />
grace and at <strong>the</strong> same time are <strong>of</strong>fering <strong>the</strong>ir suffering to be used for his glory.” In one<br />
situation God is glorified by healing, in ano<strong>the</strong>r He is glorified by withholding healing.<br />
2. OLD AGE (Dan. 8:27). Although Daniel recovered, Elisha did not (II Kings 13:14).<br />
<strong>The</strong>re is no reason to believe that Elisha, who performed twice as many miracles as Elijah,<br />
died because <strong>of</strong> a lack <strong>of</strong> faith. If <strong>the</strong>re was something spiritually wrong with Elisha,<br />
causing him to die in his sickness, why did his bones retain enough power after his death<br />
to resurrect a dead man (II Kings 13:20-21)?<br />
3. OVERWORK (Phil. 2:25-30). <strong>The</strong>re is no evidence that Epaphroditus was ill because <strong>of</strong><br />
hidden sin or lack <strong>of</strong> faith. Paul explains that “outwardly we are wasting away, yet<br />
inwardly we are being renewed day by day” (II Cor. 4:16). We are still waiting for <strong>the</strong><br />
“redemption <strong>of</strong> our bodies” (Rom. 8:23).