When the even was come, they brought unto Him many that were possessed with devils: and cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick: That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses. Math. 8:16-17
DR Whedon in his comments on the above scripture says “Sickness, mortality and temporal death are as truly a part of the great penalty of sin, as the very pangs of hell itself. All of these were borne by the Saviour in the form of atonement, suffering on the cross. It is by this substitutional suffering in our stead that the man Christ Jesus was entitled to redeem us from hell and relieve us even from the earthly part of our woes. He healed sickness, therefore, by bearing even that in His own body on the tree.”
As truly as Jesus bore our sins, so also has He borne our sickness. Alas! How many still bear their own sins instead of coming to the cross to surrender themselves to Jesus Christ, and by faith lay them upon Him. And Alas! How many who have entered into a part of their redemptive privileges, do not yet know Jesus as their sickness bearer and have not presented unto the Lord their bodies which He has redeemed for His possession.
For lack of true Bible teaching, many of God’s own people are suffering with disease and going into premature graves. Many are disabled and hindered from doing the work of the Lord, and are being ministered unto instead of being in the perfect will of God and ministering to others.
The command of our Lord is “Go,” and help others, leaving no license or time to linger upon the beds of affliction.
The leper recognized Jesus’ power to heal, “Lord, if Thou wilt, Thou canst make me clean.” Math. 8:28 The quick response of Jesus was, “I will,” and if there was any lack, it was on the part of the one that was sick.
The Holy Spirit tells that healing is the office work of Jesus. Acts 10:28. Jesus has settled the matter of His willingness, as well as His ability - by healing all, and giving unto His disciples the authority to heal in His name, as truly as to preach the Gospel, Math. 10:1-9, & Mark 16:18-20.
Divine Healing saves from all injurious habits, Tobacco, opium, pork, tea and coffee are authoritatively declared to be injurious to the health. “Hundred fold” people drop them and conserve health, where others imperil it. Regeneration retained involves this question, but sanctification brings intense light.
“Filthiness of the flesh” put away and bodies washed with pure water are conditions of closest communion with God. Clean hearts, clean spirits, clean habits, clean bodies, clean cloths, clean food and clean homes are all requisites of a Pentecostal experience. Were more attention paid to these laws of health, there would be a smaller field for drugs and Divine Healing.”
* Note: The Church of God has no ruling as to what one can eat or drink, with the exception of strong drink, and is against all use of tobacco, opium, morphine, ect.
Bro. A. J. not only preached Divine Healing, he practiced it, for it is not enough to believe in Divine Healing - it must be practiced and lived. Amen
