It is the revealed will of God that all people should prosper and be in health, with the prosperity of the soul being commensurate with the temporal aspect of life. Longevity and good quality of life for as long as possible is well within the realm of possibility in the majority of cases and God has seen fit to give us laws and instructions on how we may lead lives that are free from disease to a large extent.
But it is true, that try as we might, we may still get sick, and thus, praying for healing becomes an issue, especially when there might be contributing factors beyond our control. It’s always good to turn to God, for Jesus is described in the scriptures as the mighty Healer, The great Physician, and the One, who alone can heal all diseases of the body, mind and spirit. But before we delve into prayer for healing, there are certain things we must come to grips with, so that we can pray intelligently and expectantly.
Our freedom to chose plays a huge role in health, and especially in developed countries, where resources are much more available, our choices could make a big difference in our health, and in our prayers for healing, when sickness does occur. As a general rule of thumb, any doctor will tell you that prevention is better than cure, and the same is true when it comes to praying for healing. In other words, God prefers not to exercise His miraculous power directly, if He doesn’t have to, and therefore He encourages one and all to choose wisely, when it comes to the preservation of life.
Eating, and drinking certain things will get you sick, and will compromise health unnecessarily; and even though God may have mercy on us in such instances He much prefers that we exercise good wisdom and discretion based upon available knowledge that can be found both in the scriptures and in the prophetic writings of His servants. Also, the various journals of medicine can provide rich resources on how to care for the human body, in ways that will honor and glorify God. Knowledge on healthful living is virtually at our fingertips today, so that for the most part, we are without excuse.
Back in the days, when Jesus walked this earth, He went about healing all the diseases of the people in a wholesale manner, where anyone, and everyone would come for miraculous healing, whether they had obeyed, or disobeyed the then-known laws of health. And the scriptural record says, “He healed them all. Let’s read:
Luke 6:17 And he came down with them, and stood in the plain, and a great multitude of people out of all Judaea and Jerusalem, and from the sea coast of Tyre and Sidon, which came to hear him, and to be healed of their diseases; 18 And they that were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed. 19 And the whole multitude sought to touch him: for there went virtue out of him and healed them all.
But those days are for all intents and purposes over, for since that time, God has caused a flood of light, and information to be shed upon the world, in the areas of medicine, diets and foods, so that His direct miraculous healing, as a general rule of thumb, isn’t to be expected anymore as in the days of Christ. He still performs direct miracles, but generally not on a large-scale basis as it was heretofore.
In fact, there is such a thing as unnecessary miracles where the supernatural, miracle-working power of God should not be solicited for things we can do or things we can avoid. Many years ago, a good friend of mine was in a predicament, and needed urgent help. A gentleman had brought in his new truck for work, but afterwards, for some unknown reason it refused to start. Hours went by until it was quite late, and therefore I was called to see if there was something I could do to start the engine.
It was now about 10 pm and the gentleman was not in a gentle mood, for none could figure out the problem. On arriving at his business, I opened the hood and there in front of me was the brand, new Ford engine, supercharged and squeaky clean. I shook my head, and started to pray for a miracle, for as far as I was concerned there was nothing for me to do. The situation was then put to the Lord in prayer, asking for a miracle, and The Lord heard and answered immediately, for after saying amen I went over to the vehicle, turned the ignition key, and the engine roared to life.
The owner of the vehicle literally flew out of the office where he was waiting and I was eagerly asked what had I done. The reply given was that the God of heaven alone had started the engine in response to prayer, for in this instance, where all that could be done had been done, God saw fit to exercise His supernatural power, and the rest is history.
However, if for some reason, my friend called me to put some air in his tires, which is the simplest of all automotive work, God would be pretty taken aback if I was to ask for a miracle, for here is something I am well able to do and therefore, supernatural help cannot be reasonably expected to do, that which I could easily do for myself. Similarly, there are unnecessary miracles, where in some circumstances it is well within our purview to take proactive, and preemptive measures to stave off disease.
God therefore expects us to do our very best, and then, if persons were to hit a roadblock in the process, God can be confidently petitioned for His miraculous intervention. But for us to call upon God to grant miracles for any and every cause is contrary to the way He works, for everything good that is to be accomplished, is done in cooperation with God, wherever possible. Thus, we are under a sacred obligation to do the best we can by His grace, and if for some reason beyond our control we may run into difficulty, then God can be petitioned to take up the slack.
Now, we have doctors, nurses, and physicians and dieticians who are often used as instruments in His hands to accomplish His good purposes in healing the human family. Advances in science, and a much better knowledge of the human frame has resulted in a wealth of information that is readily available, so that our choices can be well-informed.
Thus, whenever it comes to healing in our day, we are now required, wherever possible to reason from cause to effect those actions which breed reactions, and also, whatever precautionary measures may be taken by ourselves to foster good health, longevity, and thereby avoid the many sicknesses and cancers that are taking an unnecessary toll on persons. When God predicted through the prophet Daniel, that knowledge would be increased, He was thus referring to all types of knowledge, in the spiritual and temporal realm even though our understanding of the scriptures would take precedence.
Therefore, to whomever much is given, much will be required, and as such, direct miracles from God, are no longer the default setting, but rather, when current knowledge has failed in delivering results. In other words, the knowledge He has been pleased to give us is to be used preemptively in ways that will enable us to avoid disease, wherever and whenever possible. But there are certain practices that must be avoided when they go contrary to His counsels and there are certain medicines employed today which might not square with His instructions.
We should remember here that the symbol for healing is the serpent on a staff, and therefore, we should expect to find that intermingled with godly knowledge, another kind of alternative knowledge will be available, of which God does not approve.
This leads us to the core of our study this evening, in which we will examine two examples of healing sought by two kings in the Bible, one after the godly sought, and one after the devilish sort. We will also examine the driving factors behind the choices of each king, and we would seek to learn all of those pertinent lessons and instructions, God will have us be cognizant of, especially as it pertains to praying for healing. Let’s read:
2nd Kings 1:2 And Ahaziah fell down through a lattice in his upper chamber that was in Samaria, and was sick: and he sent messengers, and said unto them, Go, enquire of Baalzebub the god of Ekron whether I shall recover of this disease. 3 But the angel of the Lord said to Elijah the Tishbite, Arise, go up to meet the messengers of the king of Samaria, and say unto them, Is it not because there is not a God in Israel, that ye go to enquire of Baalzebub the god of Ekron? 4 Now therefore thus saith the Lord, Thou shalt not come down from that bed on which thou art gone up, but shalt surely die. And Elijah departed.
2nd Kings 20:1 In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. And the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz came to him, and said unto him, Thus saith the Lord, Set thine house in order; for thou shalt die, and not live. 2 Then he turned his face to the wall, and prayed unto the Lord, saying, 3 I beseech thee, O Lord, remember now how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart and have done that which is good in thy sight. And Hezekiah wept sore.
4 And it came to pass, before Isaiah was gone out into the middle court, that the word of the Lord came to him, saying, 5 Turn again, and tell Hezekiah the captain of my people, Thus saith the Lord, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will heal thee: on the third day thou shalt go up unto the house of the Lord. 7 And Isaiah said, Take a lump of figs. And they took and laid it on the boil, and he recovered.
Here we have two kings facing death on account of medical conditions that had deteriorated seriously. Both are in dire straits, but one turns to the god of Ekron, while the other turns to the God of heaven. Critically important lessons concerning prayers for healing, and pertaining to how we should go about seeking help are thus outlined below. In cases where we are in dire straits medically, our first move should be to turn to God in prayer. Even if He does not employ a direct miracle, He can guide the hands and minds of human agencies to bring about healing according to His will.
2nd Kings 20:2 Then he (Hezekiah) turned his face to the wall and prayed unto the Lord.
Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
But Ahaziah chose to go a different route, for he preferred the god of Ekron over The God of Israel, which shows where his confidence was centered. Where we go, and who we go to for healing could affect our prayers, for there are currently certain practices, with which God will have nothing to do. And if anyone who knows better, presumed to take such a route, any prayers for healing will be short-circuited.
The god of ekron has its modern-day equivalent in those practices such as hypnotism, clairvoyancy, so-called faith healers, and remedies which include the permanent altering of one’s mind. Professed faith healers, in particular, have become very popular in our day but many persons do not know that in most cases, God has nothing to do with it. That’s because in many instances God is petitioned for unnecessary miracles.
In our day, whenever and wherever God’s revealed instructions on prevention and cure are not disseminated to the people, where miraculous healing is offered en-masse, regardless of the habits indulged by persons, there we may be certain that it is the god of ekron at work. Earnest prayer for miraculous healing will involve a level of soul-searching to see if we have deliberately or inadvertently contributed to the cause. Then, if we are at fault, confession of sin, and determination to change one’s course of action must be decided.
In other words, if a person came down with cancer from eating forbidden foods, prayer to God will only be answered according to His will, if that individual purposes to change. But where miraculous healing is prayed for, to fix problems we have no intention of addressing, the answers would be coming from Ekron, not from God. Let’s read:
2nd Chronicles 20:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. 15 Now mine eyes shall be open, and mine ears attent unto the prayer that is made in this place.
James 5:14 Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up, and if he has committed sins they shall be forgiven him. 16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.
Again, prayer for healing must be accompanied with proactive steps in the right direction, because God often works in collaboration with our efforts. There are times when a change in diet may be necessary, and there are times when natural remedies are to be used, as was the case with Hezekiah, but in most cases, the human agent will need to act upon his or her prayers. Let’s read:
John 5: 5 And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years. 6 When Jesus knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole? 7 The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool. 8 Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk.
9 And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the sabbath. 14 Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee.
Thus, what Jesus essentially said to the man is that he should carefully consider his ways, reason from cause to effect and take all necessary steps to avoid any relapse, such as happens when former cancers can come back with a vengeance. In our day currently there are two prominent kinds of cancers which often affect many individuals living in the western world. Breast cancers, and prostate cancer are the two leading culprits that afflict many persons, and therefore, this evening we will petition God to intervene according to His good will with the understanding that a permanent change in lifestyle, and habits should be the end goal.
Hereditary risk factors may be beyond our control, in certain instances, for if there is a family history of a particular kind of cancer, genetics can play a role. But those things we can do to help the situation, to stave it off if possible, are what we should focus on. Remember, it is cooperation with God through our intelligent choices and action, that can make the big difference.
Last June, when I contracted food poisoning from a restaurant, the doctor sat me down, and explained that in the healing process, I would have to follow a particular dietary regimen to facilitate those efforts made by his team. I would have to adopt the BRAT diet, and I would need to avoid direct sunlight for some time. But his dietary instructions were given to me in the middle of mango season, when our trees were now laden with fruit.
But if I desired to be healed I would need to cooperate with his instructions, so that the recovery could take place. Thus, as I looked out of my window at those juicy fellows, and saw the squirrels feasting, I needed to exercise self-control in not departing from those dietary instructions given me. Similarly, when we pray for healing, any pertinent instructions that are to facilitate recovery and maintain healing will need to be followed faithfully for that is how cooperation with God, in praying for healing usually takes place.
On October 26-2015, the World Health Organization declared processed meat to be some of the main causes of cancers, and classified it as a carcinogen. In addition it mentioned other red meats such as pork, beef, lamb, and goat as culprits to watch out for. More than twenty experts from ten countries had reviewed more than 800 studies to come to their conclusions. They found that eating approximately one hot dog of processed meat every day increased the risk of colorectal cancer by 18%.
For red meat, there was evidence of increased risk of colorectal, pancreatic, and prostate cancer. They then went on to state, and reiterate that a diet high in vegetables, whole grains, and fruit, together with regular exercise each day and avoiding tobacco products can help people lower their risk of getting many types of cancer.
Avoiding the use of alcoholic beverages in any form, and avoiding excesses in salts, fermentations, and refined sugars will go a long way in helping us in our battles against cancers and diseases of all sorts. Thus, when we pray for healing, God desires that we pray with the understanding, in that all of the relevant instructions, and choices we could put in place should be implemented, so that whenever He chooses to couple His supernatural power with our efforts, a restoration to health and longevity will be the sure result.
We therefore end with three passages of scripture which demonstrate God’s good purposes toward us, if we wish to cooperate with Him in fending off the diseases that are largely preventable and also in the restoration of those who are currently in need of healing. Let’s read:
3rd John 1: 2 Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospers.
Jeremiah 8:22 Is there no balm in Gilead; is there no physician there? why then is not the health of the daughter of my people recovered?
Psalms 103:2 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits. 3 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; 4 Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; 5 Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.
In this last verse, we see beyond the shadow of any doubt that God’s renewal of our youth and health is inextricably tied to diet and foods. Therefore, let all those who have ears to hear, be wise, and make the necessary changes where warranted.
God Bless!