BYPROF M.O.BALOGUN

FAITH AND HEALTH CONFERENCE, 9TH JULY 2011, GLASGOW, UK

CHRISTIAN FAITH AND HEALTH

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INTRODUCTIONHealing is an integral part of the gospel of the

Kingdom of God and of our Lord Jesus Christ.Reading through the Scriptures, one is

confronted with the overwhelming evidence of God’s desire to heal the sick, through the ministry of Jesus, the disciples and the prophets.

One of the most pressing needs of mankind today is total healing and the enjoyment of good health. To fully understand what healing is we need to define true health.

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DEFINITION OF HEALTHWorld Health Organization “Health is a state of

complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity”.

WHO argues that if you live in poverty, in a police state or if you are unemployed, then you are not healthy in the truest sense of the word.

Man is a tripartite being. Man is spirit, he has a soul and he dwells in a body (1Thess. 5:23- “Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely: and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ”.)

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THE PERFECT WILL OF GODThe perfect will of God is that we enjoy divine health

(3Jn 2) and His promise is that we enjoy long life (Ps. 91:16) and receive healing for our sicknesses (Mark 16:17-18).Healing is the children’s bread (Mk 7:24-30).

Physicians and all those in the health professions aid in the healing process. The great and amazing advances in medical science have come from God.

The healings by the Lord Jesus Christ were instantaneous and His miracles were immediate. When you pray for healing by faith, recovery should start immediately and be completed within a short while. If this did not happen immediately you should put your faith in the Lord and seek for medical help.

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CAUSES OF SICKNESS1) SIN: Adam and Eve were created sinless, blameless

and guiltless and were created in the image and likeness of God (Gen 1:26). They enjoyed perfect health. In the Garden of Eden there were certain qualities or practices that characterised their lifestyle and, no doubt, contributed to their health:

(a) They enjoyed fellowship with God(b) They were naked and not ashamed (implying

innocence, simplicity and frankness). Physically perfect, wonderfully made.

(c) They walked in obedience and therefore in dominion

(d) They had inner peace and harmony. No fear, anxiety, grumbling and murmuring

(e) They ate natural, unprocessed, food.

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CAUSES OF SICKNESS(f) They had clean air, unpolluted rivers, good

climate, no toxic and industrial wastes, no destructive viruses, bacteria and other micro-organisms

(g) There was no strife, war and covetousnessIn summary there was no sin until Adam and

Eve disobeyed (Gen 2:16-17). The law of sin and death began to operate and physical death followed spiritual death. Mankind gradually learned how to die young. Through this disobedience, sickness fell on the human race (Ps. 107:17-18; Rom. 5:12; James 5:13-15; Mk 2:5-11; Micah 6:13; Jn. 5:14; Mt 9:5; Jn. 9:3)

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CAUSES OF SICKNESS2) Curses and demonic attacks(a) Curses from disobedience to God’s laws

as a judgement for sin (Deut 28:15-67; Lev. 26:15-16; Ps. 107:17-18; Mic. 6:13)

(b) Curses emanating from Satan and his agents i.e. Direct satanic or demonic attack. Evil spirits can directly cause sickness (Job 2:2-7; Lk. 13:16; Mt. 9:32-33; Mt. 9:17-27; Balak/Balam Num. 22-24)

(c) Curses from God’s servants e.g. Joshua and the city of Jericho (Jos. 6:26)

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CAUSES OF SICKNESS(3) Undue physical and or mental strain

(i.e. Lack of rest) e.g. Epaphroditus (Phil. 2:25-30)

Note mental stress.(4) Failure to take care of the body

properly:(a) Wrong foods and eating habits(b) Unhealthy habits and practices- drugs, tobacco,

alcohol etc. (Lev. 11:1-47; Deut 14:3-21). The New Testament does not require that we observe food laws, but God expects us to apply wisdom and eat food that will keep us healthy (Heb. 13 :9; Rom. 14:2,3,14-15)

(c) Lack of exercise

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CAUSES OF SICKNESS(5) Ignorance- of negative implications of

actions (or inaction) for our health (Hosea 4:6)Neglecting health care because of the belief

that there is a conflict between faith and health seeking behaviours.

Refusing to use prescribed medication because of the belief that taking medication is a lack of faith.

Question: Are there people in the world today who are totally free of the use of medicinal substances knowingly or unknowingly?

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CAUSES OF SICKNESS(6) Natural ageing (reduces physical

strength)- Ps. 103:5; Isa 40:31. However, God can preserve our health and strength e.g. Moses had good eyesight and physical strength even in old age (Deut. 34:7). “As thy days so shall thy strength be” (Deut 33:25).

(7) Special circumstances: Reasons were largely unexplained. Godly people can fall sick. (2Kg. 13:14,20-21; Dan. 8:27; Phil. 2: 25-30; 2 Kg. 20:1-6; 2Tim. 4:20; Jn. 11:1; 2Cor 12:7-10; Acts 9:36-37 and 1Tim. 5:23).

(8) By Inheritance: This may relate to (1) and (2) above. Sin may result in organ disease in ancestors and these diseases may be genetically transferred to descendants.

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IS IT GOD’S WILL TO HEAL?YES IT IS GOD’S WILL TO HEAL.(A) Scriptures testify that it is God’s desire to heal (3Jn.

2; Exod. 15:26; Ps. 103:1-3; Deut. 7:15; Mt. 15: 22-28; Mt. 8:2-3, 16-17; Acts 10:38; Jn. 10:10; Lk. 4:18-19,40; Isa 61:1; Gal. 3:13-14, 1Jn. 3:8). Sickness does not glorify God. What brings glory to God is the healing and the deliverance from the works of darkness.

(B) Jesus made provision for our healing- Isa. 53:1-5,2Pet.2:24

(C) Jesus committed the ministry of healing to the Body of Christ: Jn. 14:12; Mt. 9:35-36; Mk.6: 12-13;Mt.10:1,7,8: Mk. 16:16-18; James 5:14-16 and Lk 10:9,17-19)

(D) Gifts of Healings are available to believers: 1Cor 12:9

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IS IT GOD’S WILL TO HEAL?YES IT IS GOD’S WILL TO HEAL.(E) The redemptive names of God:

Jehovah Rapha, J. Ra-ah(F) Scriptures reveal God’s

displeasure with “shepherds” who refused to heal the sick (Eze.34:2-10,23)

(G) The experience of the history of believers for over 2000 years.

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IS IT LACK OF FAITH IF I USE MEDICINE?Is it against God’s will to receive medical help and

use medication? Have I committed sin if I do so?Answer: No to all these questions.We must remember that Jesus Christ is the healer.

Physicians cannot heal, they only aid or help in the healing process. The first step to take when we are sick is to pray and seek God’s face. We need to ask God to reveal to us why we are sick. The second step is to call for the elders of the Church (James 5:14-16) or other believers (Mk 16:17-18; Mt. 18:19-20) in a prayer of agreement. If God permits, then we should go to the hospitals for treatment believing that God can use medicine as a means of healing

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SHOULD I DISCONTINUE MEDICATION?QUESTION: When I pray and make my claim to

physical healing, should I discontinue medication?ANSWER: No you should not. Your heart by faith

knows that you are healed, but your body may not know it yet. Therefore your body may still need the medication for its normal function until the physical healing is manifested in your body. Maintain your confession of the word of God and continue to thank God for your healing. Once the physical healing is manifested there will be no more need for medication. Your physical healing needs to be confirmed by your doctor.

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SCRIPTURAL EVIDENCE FOR MEDICAL AND HEALTH CARE1)No condemnation of medical remedies can be

found in the Bible.2) Luke was referred to as the beloved

physician (Col. 4:14)3) Christ did not criticize those who cared for

the sick or wounded- Lk.10:30-35 (the good Samaritan); Mt. 9:12-13; Lk.4:23 (Physician heal yourself)

4) God taught the children of Israel certain health laws after He gave them the covenant of healing. He appointed certain people- the Priests to administer those laws.

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SCRIPTURAL EVIDENCE FOR MEDICAL AND HEALTH CARE5) Jesus commanded the lepers to show

themselves to the Priests after they were healed. The Priests were the medical examiners in Israel (Lk 17:11-14; Lev. 13:1-59)

6) Examples of Medical practice: (a) Physicians and medical remedies: Col 4:14;

2Tim 4:11; Gen 50:2 (embalment); 2Chr 16:12 (Asa); Jer.51:8; Mt. 9:12; Lk4:23; Job 13:4 (worthless physicians); Jer.8:22 (Is there no physician there?)

The problem with Asa was that he did not seek the Lord before the physicians. He put his faith in the Physicians and not in the Lord.

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SCRIPTURAL EVIDENCE FOR MEDICAL AND HEALTH CARE(b) The value of medicine: Prov. 17:22; Jer. 46:11;

30:13, 8:22; Ezek. 47:12; Rev. 22:2; Ps.104:14(c) Remedies: 2Kg. 20:7 (lump of figs); Isa.1:6; Lk.

10:34; 1Tim. 5:23; Jer.8:22; James 5:14; Rev. 3:18(eye salve); Mk 6:13; Job 2:7-8 (potsherd and ashes); Gen.30:14 (Mandrakes for fertility); Jer.46:11 (Balsam from Gilead contain medicinal substances);

(d) Anaesthesia and Surgery: Adam -Gen. 2:21-22; Circumcision- Gen.17:10-14; Treatment of fractures: Ezek 30:21

(e) Sanitation and Disinfection: Lev. 14:41; 15:5; Deut.23:14

(f) Sterilization/Preventing the spread of infection: Lev.11; 19:7; Num.11:19-20.

(g) Quarantine: Lev. 13:4,46 (leprosy); Lev. 14:8; 2Kg. 15:5; Num. 5:2,4; 25:9; 31:19-23; Deut 28:27; Lk17:12.

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SCRIPTURAL EVIDENCE FOR HEALTH CARE(h) Hygiene and Dietetics: Lev.11; 19:7;

Num.11:19-20(i) Jesus used natural means mixed with

faith (Blindman:Jn.9:6-7)(j) Where medical science can no longer

help, God remains faithful to His desire to heal us: Mk.5:25-34

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GOD USES MEANS TO HEALAnointing oil- James 5:14Handkerchiefs and aprons- Acts

19:11-12Water- Jn. 5:2-4.Saliva and mud- Jn. 9:6Wine- 1Tim. 5:23Serpent on the pole-Num 21:9

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GOD USES MEANS TO HEALMEANS OF HEALING 1) Natural- The body has amazing

resistance and recovery powers. Given a chance it will restore itself to health.

2) Drugs/ Medical careMedical science cooperates with the laws

and provisions of God and apply this knowledge to making people well. Medical care is a mercy ministry and God has positioned His children within these hospitals all over the world.

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GOD USES MEANS TO HEALMEANS OF HEALING 3) Corrective eating and sensible lifestyle (including

stress management). The Bible says in Hosea 4:6 “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge…”. Many people have been healed through the acquisition of correct knowledge about illnesses and have had no need to continue the use of medication.

4) Supernatural healing (miracles)-satanic healing which creates bondages and more

problems.-Divine healing- Lk. 13:10-17- which gives perfect

healing and liberty

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METHODS OF DIVINE HEALINGSupply of body “spare parts”Complete overhaulingComplete re-creation (Jn. 9:6-7)Total repairJESUS CHRIST, the Great Physician, is the HEALER and the RESTORER of HEALTH

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