Monday, November 11, 2019

Lies Religious Tradition taught us: God is the Author of Sickness and Disease.

Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
2 Timothy 3:5 KJV

13 making the word of God of no effect through your tradition which you have handed down. And many such things you do.” Mark 7:13 NKJV


 We're beginning a new series of study, unraveling and exposing the lies religious tradition taught us. Lies we've been subjected to while sitting under the teaching of those who've also been captured and indoctrinated by religious traditional ideas. Lies we've heard for so long it almost appears blasphemous to even entertain the idea that they're wrong. 

 Lies such as God wants you poor and poverty-stricken. Or that God kills people. Lies religious tradition has perpetuated for years and years and have become strongholds in the minds of so many. 

 How do we find freedom from these lies? How do we bring down these strongholds? The answer is simple. God's Word, rightly divided and understood in context. 

 I want to begin this study dispelling one of the biggest lies religious tradition pushes on the Church. The concept that God is the author of sickness and disease. Let's look at the life of Jesus to see if this concept has any truth.

 Jesus is God. Jesus was God manifest in the flesh. Jesus said of Himself that He only came to do the will of God. Jesus said He only does what He sees the Father do. So we can clearly see Jesus is only doing God's will. Jesus then is the will of God in action

 Look then at Peter's words summarizing Christ's work.
38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him. Acts 10:38 MEV

 Look at what Peter just said. Jesus only went about doing good and healing. Jesus testified of Himself He only did what God wanted. I don't see spreading sickness or sending disease as part of this work.

 What we do see is Peter outlining God's work through Jesus. This passage reveals what Jesus went about doing, only good. It reveals how many God wants to heal, all. It reveals who the oppressor is, the enemy, the devil. Take note of how the New Covenant defines oppression.

 The New Covenant tells us one major expression of oppression is sickness and disease. This is important to note for the purpose of this study. Look at Isaiah in the Old Testament and what he prophesied. 
14 In righteousness shalt thou be established: thou shalt be far from oppression; for thou shalt not fear: and from terror; for it shall not come near thee. 15 Behold, they shall surely gather together, but not by me: whosoever shall gather together against thee shall fall for thy sake. Isaiah 54:14-15 KJV

 Isaiah reveals that God declares oppression may come but not from God. Peter tells us oppression is sickness and disease. We see it clearly God telling us sickness and disease are never from Him. To say otherwise is to defame God's character. 

 Yea but what about the Old Covenant? We see people sick and afflicted and it said God did it. To respond to these objections, we must rightly divide the Word of God by Covenant and the timing of the Finished Work.

 You see to religion, it seems the Cross didn't change anything. The way they pray to God is the same way the children of Israel prayed. If they miss it, they ask for God to give them a clean heart, something He already did by virtue of the new birth. They see God's judgment falling in the Old and say so it is today. No, my friend, the Cross changed everything.

 Let's also explain the judgment of God. I know under Grace, judgment seems counter to who God is. The problem is we haven't read the entire Bible. Or rather we haven't paid much attention to it. All throughout the Old, we catch glimpses of the heart of God.

 He doesn't ever want to send judgment. Yet because the Finished Work hasn't happened He had no choice in order to deal with the sins and wickedness of the people. This doesn't change who God is or always has been. He has always been Good and merciful and kind and loving.

 We must understand the condition of the Earth because of the fall of mankind. Everything negative has its roots in this event. You'll find satan and Adam's transgression at the heart of all bad things on Earth. What do I mean?

 When Adam fell, this creation became fractured and fallen. Viruses and bacteria entered in that cause sickness and disease. The enemy also came to bring destruction at every opportunity. This is key. So when you see God speaking of curses and destruction that accompany disobedience or breaking the Old Covenant Law, what God was doing was not bringing or ordaining or authoring the destruction. 

 What God was doing was revealing the consequences of actions taken. What He was doing was revealing what was already out there because of the original fall and when you align with that disobedience you experience destruction. God was more like a weather forecaster, not the one making the conditions. 

 It's like the weatherman telling you if you go outside today you will get wet. You decide to go outside and then get wet. Do you blame the forecaster or yourself? Tradition has blamed the forecaster, so to speak,  not realizing all He did was reveal what was already out there.

 Look at Miriam, Moses' sister. What happened to her? Tradition says God made her sick with leprosy. Is that right? No! She chose to reject Moses' wife and question Moses' position, that is she chose discord.  God was angry at this and it says He departed. There is your answer.

 The "rain" was always out there. She chose to ignore the forecaster and went outside. Results? She got wet if you will. The key here was the phrase He departed, God didn't make her leperous. He departed, that is His protecting hand was temporaily moved, God didn't put leprosy on her, or even allow it. He allowed what Miriam allowed by her choices. Thankfully, this was temporary and she repented and she was delivered. Now under the New Covenant, we have something better. 

 Under Grace, Jesus bore the curse. He took upon Himself all the wrath, punishment for sins and transgressions, and bore all sickness and disease in His own body on the tree. Now we are made whole because of the Finished Work. Because of the Cross, He gave us authority over sin, sickness, disease and poverty and any curse. The enemy was defeated and he is under our feet!

 The true Good News is that God is always Good. The simple truth is the enemy is always bad. God is not the afflicter, not the oppressor, not the One bringing evil, destruction, tragedy, tribulation or trials. He isn't the author of harm, hurt or torment or trauma. He is the healer and the One who makes whole. Jesus bore all our sickness and disease and it's His great pleasure to bring healing and wholeness to all who simply believe it and receive it.

 In summation, allow the Word to wash away the lies of religion. Let the Love of God and His truth pull down strongholds in your mind. God is Good and not the author of bad. Embrace this radically Gracious and Good Father. 
Image courtesy of Stuart Miles at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

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