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"The Bible says a merry heart does good even as a medicine does good.  So it is clear that God says medicine is good. 

"The Bible also refers to God as a Physician.  Obviously God is not opposed to Physicians because He is not opposed to Himself.  

"However, God saying medicine is good and His not being opposed to physicians is no excuse for the Christian to not develop faith for Divine healing. Without faith it is not possible to please Him.  

"A combination of both the natural & the supernatural will create an atmosphere for God to move."      

- Pastor John Hamel   

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Updated 3 May 2014

Live Table of Contents 

Chapter  1: "Pastor John, the Confusion & Condemnation Are Gone!"

Chapter  2: God Has Provided Supernatural & Natural Remedies

Chapter  3: Creator God Is Both a Medical Doctor & the Only Healer

Chapter  3Faith Will Do Whatever It Takes to Get the Job Done

Chapter  4: God First. Doctor Second

Chapter  5: God's Word Is Medicine & Medicine Is Good

Chapter  5Wisdom from Proverbs
Chapter  5Don't Block the Spout Where the Healing Comes Out

Chapter  6: Two Realms Working Together for Good

Chapter  7: A Personal Illustration of Both Faith & Obedience

Chapter  7We Knew Exactly What to Do

Chapter  8: Additional Old Testament Examples

Chapter  8"Is There No Balm in Gilead?"

Chapter  8Why Medication Would Not Work for Egypt

Chapter  8"The Leaf Thereof for Medicine"

Chapter  9: Examples from Jesus' & the Apostle Paul's Ministry

Chapter  9Jesus' Stamp of Approval upon Physicians

Chapter  9Doctors Can Only Do So Much

Chapter  9"He Commanded that Something Should Be Given Her to Eat"

Chapter  9Jesus Came Up Under a Doctor

Chapter  9"I Receive This with Thanksgiving in Jesus' Name"

Chapter  9"Luke, the Beloved  Physician"

Chapter  9 Dr. Kenneth E. Hagin Was Not a Hypocrite

Chapter 10: The Final Analysis, "If It's Good, It's God!"

Chapter  9 Healing Scriptures for Meditation

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Chapter One: "Pastor John, the Confusion & Condemnation Are Gone!"

"Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore, get wisdom...." (Proverbs 4:7)

Whenever someone is in need of healing, we always advise them to ask the Father for wisdom before they ask for anything else.  We do this because there may be an open door to sickness in their lives that they have not yet considered.  Until that open door is closed, they will continually meet with frustration and failure by simply praying for healing and not first asking for wisdom.  

The Bible says that wisdom is the principal thing, meaning it is the first thing one should ask for when encountering any of life's problems.  Get wisdom in the matter first then God's provision will flow. 

I once preached the message you are about to read in a Church in North Carolina.  A precious Pentecostal woman who had been involved in Pentecost all of her life walked up to me after the service and with tears of joy told me the following.  

"Brother John, I was raised in the Pentecostal Church since I was just a little girl.  All my life I've been taught that it is a sin and a lack of faith to use doctors or medicine.  But I have had symptoms over the course of my life where it seemed only doctors and medication were able to help me.  I've spent my life in confusion over this because the doctors and the medication made things better and that was good.  But I have lived with condemnation for using them because I've always been taught that was bad.  But what you preached tonight has set me free.  The confusion and the condemnation are gone.  I see I was not doing the wrong thing by utilizing the wisdom God gives to doctors and the medications He alone provides. But I also see that it's my responsibility to build faith for healing while using medication and I will do that. But I thank God for what I learned tonight."

Some Believers and even Ministers actually believe it’s a lack of faith and even sinful to use medicine or to go to a doctor.  That presumption is based on a lack of knowledge of God's Word.

I recently received a report of a Christian man who began to show symptoms of a heart attack coming on during a Church service.  Some within the congregation began to pray for him immediately while someone else ran to call for an ambulance.  The ambulance came, took him to the hospital and through medical intervention the man's life was spared.  

Later someone from that congregation actually rebuked the man for going to the hospital when the symptoms appeared.  He was told that going to the hospital was "a lack of faith" on his part.  I happen to know this man well enough to know that he simply did not have faith for healing.  He has spent most of his adult life sitting in a goofed-up Church that teaches goofy doctrine, particularly when it comes to Divine healing.  

This man used great wisdom allowing himself to be taken to the hospital.  The individual who called for the ambulance was being led by the Spirit of God to save the man's life.  When someone does not have faith for miracle healing, doctors, medicine and medical technology are the best friends they could possibly have.  

Some people wrongly assume that simply "believing in healing" is the same as actually "having faith for healing" when, in fact, it is not the same.  Actual faith for healing can only come by meditating on (softly speaking to oneself) the healing Word of God.

"This Book of the Law shall not depart out of thy mouth (keep speaking it forth); but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success." (Joshua 1:8)

"My son, attend to My words; incline thine ear unto My sayings. Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh." (Proverbs 4:20-22)

So we see from the Word of God that faith for healing enters in through the eye-gate and the ear-gate.  When one meditates on healing Scriptures, meaning to speak them softly to oneself over and over, faith comes supernaturally. Almighty God set it up to operate this way.  

"So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God." (Romans 10:17)

I like to say it this way.  "Faith comes by hearing and hearing and hearing, and hearing by the Word of God."  

People who do not deliberately meditate on healing Scriptures to build faith for healing simply do not have faith for healing. They may "believe in healing" but they do not "have faith for healing." There is a vast difference.  

To insist that one has faith for healing when they have never deliberately taken time to develop faith for healing is presumption - it is not faith.

One needs to be hearing the message of healing, through proper preaching and teaching and through personal reading of healing Scriptures, over and over and over in order to stimulate and to increase the general measure of faith that is given at the New Birth. 

Let's look at something the Apostle Paul said about "the measure of faith." 

"For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the (not "a") measure of faith." (Romans 12:3)

At the New Birth, every believer in Jesus Christ is given the same measure of faith to start them on the journey of faith.  When a believer in Christ is dealing with sickness, hearing and reading the healing Word of God will indeed increase the general measure of faith for healing. 

Even as hearing the Word of salvation produced faith for one's salvation, hearing and hearing the Word of healing will produce faith for one's healing. 

It is vital to receiving supernatural healing that one first understand that God is a God of compassion, that it is always His will to heal and that they must continually be exposed to the Word of healing. 

While this process of hearing and hearing is occurring and healing faith is increasing, doctors, nurses, medical technology and medicine can prove to be excellent companions to the sick and suffering.

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Chapter Two: God Has Provided Supernatural & Natural Remedies  

"And God said Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of the tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat." (Genesis 1:29)

Creator God deliberately gave Adam and Eve herb bearing seed, trees and plants that produce fruit and seeds to keep them healthy and living eternally, as long as they walked in obedience to Him.  Within those herbs, plants, trees, fruit and seeds are contained minerals, vitamins, enzymes, nutrients and other elements that, in spite of man's fall, still have healing qualities, renew body cells and increase longevity.  

These elements are extracted in order that we may take them as supplements and for healing reasons.  This is called homeopathy.  

Our bodies are made of the same elements as herbs, trees, plants, seeds, fruit and other living organisms.  Therefore, we can gain many benefits by accepting them and not rejecting them.

There are also drugs called "miracle drugs" which God has given man wisdom to produce.  We know the wisdom for most miracle drugs has come from God because they do much more good than harm. 

However, some so-called miracle drugs are highly toxic, very dangerous and can even be deadly. This is why it is so vitally important that the Christian learn to be led by the Holy Spirit's supernatural guidance before becoming involved with highly toxic, man-made drugs.  Although many highly toxic drugs can save one's life in a crisis, some can end up doing more harm than good. 

The Bible says all good things come from God. (John 10:10; James 1:17)  However, when using homeopathic remedies or man-made drugs, one must also use wisdom and take them in moderation. The Apostle Paul said that all things are acceptable within reason, but we must never be brought into subjection to any of them. (1 Corinthians 6:12)

It is very possible to become somewhat dependent upon some natural remedies and many man-made drugs.  It is possible to even become addicted to them and now that which God intended for good has become not so good.  Wisdom must be used at all times.

It also needs to be said that some pharmaceutical companies do not necessarily always have the best interest of humanity in mind. Sometimes, in pursuit of wide profit margins, they are thinking more in terms of creating customers than creating cures.  

The Christian should never allow a doctor to make all of their decisions for them.  If a doctor recommends taking a certain drug, always ask the Holy Spirit, "Is this Your will for me?" and then follow His inner guidance by the red-light or green-light which He will surely give.  

All doctors have taken an oath to do what they believe is best for their patients and many are committed to doing so even at their own expense. But all doctors are not led by the Holy Spirit when instructing their patients.  The Christian has a great responsibility to learn how to be personally led by the Holy Spirit in order to be sure the doctor is leading them down the road to recovery, not the road to further problems.

Many Doctors are not trained in properly diagnosing the root cause of sickness and treating it with safer, more natural remedies. Many are trained to treat the symptoms only and are often quick to prescribe something not natural that will not eradicate the root cause of sickness, potentially compounding the problem.

If you find yourself in need of a doctor, you should do your best to find one that believes in Jesus Christ and the Word of God.  If such a doctor is not available, simply ask the Holy Spirit to lead you by the "red-light" or "green-light" within.  He will show you which doctor is the best for you at the present time.

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Chapter Three: Creator God Is Both a Medical Doctor & the Only Healer

"And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the Lord thy God, and wilt do that which is right in His sight, and wilt give ear to His commandments, and keep all His statues, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the Lord that healeth thee." (Exodus 15:26)

First, a brief word about causative and permissive verbs in the ancient Hebrew language that will help you.  

This is pretty simple stuff, so hold steady for just a moment.  

There were no permissive verbs in the ancient Hebrew, only causative verbs.   Because there were no permissive verbs, causative verbs were often used in their place.  Sadly, that means the following.  

Whenever God was permitting a curse, because people were permitting it through disobedience, the Hebrew record implied that God was causing it when He was not. Whenever a causative verb is used as a substitute for a permissive verb, it can make God appear to be a God of wrath when He is not.  He is love. (1 John 4:8) 

This is what is actually occurring in the above verse where it states, "I will put none of these diseases upon you."  It actually should read, "I will not permit any of these diseases to come upon you."  

God does not cause sickness or disease to come upon anyone. Sickness and disease comes to steal one's health, to kill and to destroy.  Jesus said that is the job of Satan, the thief, not God. 

"The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." (John 10:10)

"Touching the Almighty; we cannot find Him out: He is excellent in power, and in judgment, and in plenty of justice: He will not afflict." (Job 37:23)  

God does not steal, kill or destroy human health. God does not afflict with sickness and disease. 

However, God does permit disease when people permit disease through lack of knowledge of His Word, lack of knowledge of His will for them to be well or through sin and disobedience on their part.  

Sickness can occur when people neglect to take proper care of themselves.  

Sickness can also occur as an outright Satanic attack against God's obedient children.  

The Bible reveals that sickness is not caused by God.  He simply permits it when man permits it in one way or another.

Exodus 15:26 above also says, "...for I am the Lord that healeth thee."  

The word "healeth" is actually "rapha."  Rapha means "medicine, stitch up, cure, healer and physician."

This is a reference to a medical doctor and it is how God refers to Himself.      

It is important to keep in mind as you continue to read that God not only refers to Himself as a medical doctor, but He also refers to Himself alone as the Great Physician or Healer.  He alone has the power to heal.  

Doctors and nurses do not possess the ability to heal, they can simply assist God and assist nature.  The humble ones will admit this fact.

Doctors, nurses and nurse practitioners can promote health and disease prevention. Together they can diagnose diseases and their symptoms, treat everything from mild ailments to serious conditions, analyze laboratory reports and x-rays, prescribe medications, perform surgeries, suturing, set broken bones and perform many other highly skilled duties - but only Almighty God, the Great Physician, possesses the power to heal. 

All healing comes from God alone. Therefore, all healing is Divine healing.  

Neither can drugs, medicine, folk or homeopathic remedies heal, but they can assist nature, and we will see from the Bible that all of these forms of medicine are good, not bad, when used wisely.  

Again, if you find yourself in need of a doctor, you should do your best to find one that believes in Jesus Christ and the Word of God.  If such a doctor is not available, simply ask the Holy Spirit to lead you by the "red-light" or "green-light" within as to which doctor you should choose.  He will show you which is the best for you at the present time.  

If you have unrest about going to a certain doctor, do not go to that doctor.  Go to the one you have peace about.  This is the primary way God guides when there is no Scripture to tell the Believer what to do. 

It is very important that the Christian be led by the Holy Spirit for themselves as to which doctor they will submit to and which medications and procedures they will or will not receive.

I want to say it again to be sure I am being clear.  Doctors, nurses, medicine and medical technology are good.  The wisdom for the help they offer comes from God.  The natural help they offer, combined with the supernatural help that comes from knowledge of God's Word, trusting the Holy Spirit and faith-filled prayer, creates an explosive force through which God can heal.  

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Faith Will Do Whatever It Takes to Get the Job Done

When it comes to personal faith and Divine healing, one must not be so heavenly-minded that they are no earthly good.  

It is always God's will for one to be well as a result of walking in obedience to Him, and faith will do whatever it takes, both naturally and spiritually, to cause the will of God to come to pass.  

Now, I love Pastors.  Most of my friends are Pastors. But the following needs to be said.  

Some Pastors are simply crazy for telling their people they have no faith and God is not pleased if they go to a doctor. That is gross ignorance of God's Word, God's will, God's nature and quite frankly, it is a complete lack of common sense.  

Pastors must never forbid their people to use doctors or medicine.  To submit to a Pastor who wrongly believes he has the authority to tell people such a thing is to submit to potential tragedy.

I recently read of a Pastor's daughter who died as a result of entering a diabetic coma.  The Pastor and his congregation refused to allow a doctor to attend to her.  They insisted God would heal the child by faith and by faith alone. They prayed for her but were not built up in the Word of faith for healing and the child died.  

The Pastor, the congregation and even the child believed in healing, but they did not have faith for healing.  The comatose girl should have been taken immediately to a doctor, but the Pastor and the congregation were too spiritually prideful to seek medical help.  It cost that precious child her life and her Daddy, the Pastor, went to jail.  The congregation is now without leadership and I am sorry to say that, at least in one way, they are better off without him.

I know of other Pastors over the past thirty years who had people die because the Pastor did not have the authority to forbid them to go to the doctor when they were sick, but he did so regardless.  

One such Pastor in Oklahoma had eleven people in his congregation die under his leadership because he illegally, immorally and unbiblically forbade the use of doctors.  In all eleven cases, medical doctors testified that each would have readily lived with proper treatment.

No Pastor, Minister, Spiritual leader or any other human being has the authority or the right to tell anyone that they are forbidden to go to a doctor or to seek medical help.  

No Pastor, Minister, Spiritual leader or any other human being in their right mind would ever attempt to do so.

To refuse to go to a doctor or to use medication to "prove" one has faith is as foolish and dangerous as handling snakes to prove one has faith.  

If, indeed, Christian Ministers handling snakes proves one has faith in Christ, the Hindu snake charmers of Burma have more faith in Christ than Christian snake handlers because they do a far better job of it.  

People like that are so void of common sense they could not empty water out of a boot if the instructions were written on the heel.  

As Dr. Kenneth E. Hagin always said, "It would be funny if it wasn't so pathetic."

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Chapter Four: God First. Doctor Second.

"And Asa in the thirty and ninth year of his reign was diseased in his feet, until his disease was exceeding great: yet in his disease he sought not to the Lord, but to the physicians. And Asa slept with his fathers, and died in the one and fortieth year of his reign.  And they buried him in his own sepulchres, which he had made for himself in the city of David, and laid him in the bed which was filled with sweet odours and divers kinds of spices prepared by the apothecaries' art: and they made a very great burning for him." (2 Chronicles 16:12-14)

Here we have a King of Israel who became ill, did not bother to first seek Jehovah-Rapha as his Healer and went directly to the physicians.  That is as dangerous as seeking God alone and not going to the doctor when one has no faith for healing.  

Seeking the physician's care only and not even bothering to consult with Jehovah-Rapha actually cost King Asa his very life.  

Christians often make this mistake.  They do not bother to take even a skinny minute to pray when sickness symptoms appear.  They run immediately to the medicine cabinet or to the doctor, not even bothering to consult Jehovah-Rapha.  King Asa found out quickly this is the wrong way to go.  Now, it is perfectly fine to go to the doctor if one does not have faith for healing.  But one should never put the doctor first and Jehovah-Rapha second. Always seek the Lord's wisdom first.  

Even while under a doctor's care, the wise Christian will continue to consult with Jehovah-Rapha and to meditate on healing Scriptures, developing faith for and cooperating with their healing.

King Asa was trusting only in the arm of the flesh when he went running lickety-split to the doctor and right past Holy God.  

This cost King Asa his life and it could cost you yours. Slow down. Take the time to ask God for wisdom before you do anything else.

"Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding." (Proverbs 4:7)

"If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering ..." (James 1:5-6)

To trust in the flesh is death.  To trust in the Lord is life. (Jeremiah 17:5-8)

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Chapter Five: God's Word Is Medicine & Medicine Is Good

"My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh." (Proverbs 4:20-22)

The Bible reveals that God's Word is God's medicine.  Medicine which will bring healing and health to sick or diseased flesh.  The word "health" in this verse actually means "cure, remedy and medicine."  God Himself actually refers to His Word as "medicine."  

Medicine is good as we are about to see, but one must never put man's medicine before God's medicine.

"A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones." (Proverbs 17:22)

There are two things to be taken from this passage of Scripture.  

First, having a merry heart is a healthful thing.  A merry heart is a very "good" thing.  Did you get that?  A merry heart is a "good" thing.  

Here, Solomon, speaking by inspiration of the Holy Spirit is saying that medicine is "good" even as a merry heart is "good."  Here the Bible clearly reveals that both joy and medicine are good things.  If the Bible says medicine is "good" what Pentecostal Minister, Spiritual leader or anyone else for that matter, has the right to tell someone medicine is not good?  The answer is apparent.  No one has the right to say something is not good when God said, "It is good."

The second thing we must take note of here is that "a broken spirit" drieth the bones.  The word "broken" actually means "fretful, angry, hateful, jealous and unforgiving."  It seems to me that far too many people, saved and unsaved, are suffering with arthritis and other crippling, debilitating bone diseases because they are fretful, angry, hateful, jealous and unforgiving. 

A special word of caution concerning the problem of unforgiveness.  Unforgiveness is like drinking poison oneself and actually expecting someone else to die.  Unforgiveness is quite possibly the greatest hindrance to answered prayer next to a lack of understanding righteousness. 

We always counsel people as follows.  "If you're having a problem forgiving someone, God understands and He is not angry with you.  As long as you want to forgive, He will work with you."  

When having a problem with unforgiveness ourselves, we always pray this way, "Father, I'm having a problem forgiving that one because of the pain they've caused me. Please allow Your forgiveness to flow through me for them, in Jesus' Name."

It works every time.

Also, what I call "bitter forgiveness" is unacceptable with the Lord. Bitter forgiveness is when one takes the attitude, "Alright, I'll forgive them, Lord, but I don't want to and I don't like it."  

That is not forgiveness. One must be both willing and obedient to forgive in order to be forgiven and blessed themselves.

"If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: but if ye refuse and rebel, you shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it." (Isaiah 1:19-20)

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Wisdom from Proverbs

"My son forget not My law; but let thine heart keep My commandments: For length of days and long life and peace shall they add to thee. Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart: so shall thou find favor and good understanding in the sight of God and man. Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not to thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct thy paths.  Be not wise in thine own eyes, fear the Lord and depart from evil.  It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones." (Proverbs 3:1-8)

Notice King Solomon, the wisest man to ever live apart from Jesus Christ, stated that keeping God's laws and God's Word would result in long life and mental and emotional peace.  

Solomon also said that trusting in the Lord with all one's heart, leaning not to one's own intellect and acknowledging Him in all one's ways would actually produce fresh, life-giving marrow in one's bones.

It is a scientific, biological fact that human blood is produced from within human bone marrow.  

Sick marrow produces sick blood which will not carry the healing life of God throughout one's body.  

Healthy marrow produces healthy blood which will carry the Zoe healing life of God throughout one's body.  

So it is clear that trusting in the Lord with the whole heart and not leaning to one's human understanding alone will produce supernatural healing results for the one who is in need of it.  

"A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness of the bones." (Proverbs 14:30)

Here the Holy Spirit reveals that envy, which includes bitterness and unforgiveness, causes "rottenness" to one's bones which results in sick marrow and crippling diseases.

"The light of the eyes rejoiceth the heart: and a good report maketh the bones fat." (Proverbs 15:30)

"A good report maketh the bones fat" is a reference to speaking words of health, healing, forgiveness and love literally causing one's bones to produce healthy marrow which, in turn, brings health and healing to the human body. 

"Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones." (Proverbs 16:24)  

It is just not possible to produce life-giving marrow and ward off bone-crippling, organ-destroying, debilitating diseases, or any type of disease, when one speaks negative words of sickness, disease, hatred, bitterness, fear and unforgiveness as a lifestyle.

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Don't Block the Spout Where the Healing Comes Out  

If you are in need of physical or emotional healing and there is even one person in your life whom you refuse to forgive and with whom you choose to live in unresolved conflict, you will want to take care of that immediately.

"And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in Heaven may forgive you your trespasses. But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in Heaven forgive you your trespasses." (Mark 11:25-26)

It is vital to one's healing that forgiveness be offered to all wrongdoers. This does not mean that one is required to fellowship with them again, especially if the wrongdoer has broken one's trust.  Broken trust must first be restored in order for fellowship to be restored, and that is the responsibility of the one who broke trust.  But whether or not they choose to restore that broken trust, the one in need of healing must make the decision to harbor no ill-will in their heart towards the wrongdoer whatsoever.  Ill-will can kill.

"But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.  For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work." (James 3:14-16)

Many Christians live with bitterness, envy, strife and unforgiveness and as a result suffer with crippling arthritic and other debilitating, life-threatening conditions.  Unforgiveness and strife block the spout where the healing of God comes out.  A combination of bitterness, envy, strife, unforgiveness and negative speaking has resulted in tremendous, unnecessary suffering for many.  

Words are containers.  They contain life or death.  This is why the Bible says, "Life and death are in the power of the tongue." (Proverbs 18:21)  

One can literally change their situation from sickness to health simply by breaking the habit of unforgiveness and speaking death-filled words and developing the habit of forgiveness and speaking life-filled words.  

This teaching was continually enforced by Jesus, the Master Healer. (Matthew 12:33-37; Mark 11:23-25)

Listening to, obeying and speaking God's Word is the equivalent of taking God's medicine.  

God's medicine is far better than man's medicine because you can take it with all other forms of medication and you never have to worry about overdosing.  There are no adverse side-effects whatsoever.  

God's medicine offers nothing but health, healing and prosperity in every form. 

God's medicine is good, but God's Word definitely says that man's medicine is also good.  The supernatural and the natural combined create a positive environment for God to move.

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Chapter Six: Two Realms Working Together for Good

"In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. And Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz came unto him, and said unto him, Thus saith the Lord, Set thine house in order: for thou shalt die, and not live. Then Hezekiah turned his face toward the wall, and prayed unto the Lord, And said, Remember now, O Lord, I beseech thee, 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. 

"Then came the word of the Lord to Isaiah, saying, Go, and say to Hezekiah, Thus saith the Lord, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will add unto thy days fifteen years. And I will deliver thee and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria: and I will defend this city. 

"And this shall be a sign unto thee from the Lord, that the Lord will do this thing that He hath spoken; Behold, I will bring again the shadow of the degrees, which is gone down in the sun dial of Ahaz, ten degrees backward. So the sun returned ten degrees, by which degrees it was gone down." (Isaiah 38:1-8) 

God had granted King Hezekiah many overwhelming and quite supernatural victories over his enemies.  Unfortunately, King Hezekiah began operating in pride and arrogance concerning those victories, as if he himself had accomplished them. He began to take the credit for what God had done for him. (2 Chronicles 32:24-26)  

As a result of his pride, King Hezekiah became deathly ill through some sort of ulcer or boil. Human pride is a real killer.  

The Prophet Isaiah was sent to tell Hezekiah he was now going to die because of his pride.  

When confronted, King Hezekiah repented immediately, crying out to God for forgiveness and finding absolute mercy.  

The Most High God instructed the Prophet Isaiah to immediately return to Hezekiah and to tell him that his prayer of repentance was heard, he would be healed and he would also be given another fifteen years to live. 

Oh, if only human beings could fully understand the power of human repentance.

John the Apostle wrote, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9)  

Hezekiah repented and it resulted in God's promise to heal him.  However, something else quite interesting also occurred which resulted in Hezekiah's promised healing.  Let's look at verse 21 of the 38th Chapter of Isaiah. 

"For Isaiah had said, Let them take a lump of figs, and lay it for a plaster upon the boil, and he shall recover." 

Isaiah instructed the King's assistants to take a lump of figs, make a plaster or a poultice of it and lay it on the ulcer / boil which would result in the manifestation of Hezekiah's healing. 

Some teach that the fig poultice had no healing properties and that Isaiah gave his instruction to be obeyed as an act of faith which would result in Hezekiah's healing.  

Others believe the fig poultice was used to draw the toxins and poisons out of the deadly ulcer / boil, assisting in Hezekiah's healing.  

Whatever one chooses to believe, one thing is quite apparent here.  God promised to heal Hezekiah as a result of his repentance.  Then, for whatever His reason, the Most High God instructed Isaiah to tell the King's assistants to make a fig poultice and apply it to the deadly wound.  

Personally, I believe it was a combination of Hezekiah's faith in God's healing promise and a natural homeopathic remedy operating in conjunction with the supernatural power of God. 

Almighty God can do that if He wants to.  

He is God.  He makes the decisions and lays out the ground rules.

On many occasions I have laid my hands on individuals and watched God instantly or near instantly remove tumors, growths, sickness and disease supernaturally without any medical assistance whatsoever.

On many occasions I have also watched God heal individuals through a combination of doctors, medicine and faith.   

In Hezekiah's case, Almighty God chose to heal him through a combination of faith and making application of a medicinal remedy.  He did something similar with me when I had a tumerous growth in my inner ear as we will see in the next chapter.

Sometimes it takes faith to obey God and go to the doctor or take medication, no matter who says otherwise.  

When God instructs a child of His to go to the doctor or to take certain medication, to not do so is both unbelief and disobedience. 

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Chapter Seven: A Personal Illustration of Both Faith & Obedience

My wife, Barbara, and I were once on the way out to conduct a Sunday morning Church service.  Suddenly I was overcome with vertigo, falling over backwards and landing on the floor.  As the room spun around me, I realized I was in serious trouble. Barrbara went ahead and preached the service for me.  I went to lie down on the bed and to seek the Lord as to what was wrong with me.  

For the next two months I lay on that bed on my right side, unable to change positions without being overcome by the most extreme vertigo. Barbara continued to preach and teach every service for me over the next two months as I was completely incapacitated.  

As I lay there on my right side day after day, I would listen to healing messages, stirring up my faith for supernatural healing. Barbara would read healing Scriptures aloud to me over and over. 

Barbara and I both believe very strongly that Christians should always utilize the services of doctors and medicine, particularly when they do not have faith for Divine healing.  However, I was strongly impressed in my heart that in this particular case, I was not to do so.  Barbara had complete peace about my not seeking medical attention as well. We were in complete agreement on this matter.

One day while Barbara was away from home, I had a dream of revelation.  

In the dream I was looking directly at my own face in a mirror.  As I stood staring at myself in the mirror, wondering why I might be doing so, my face began to swing open as if it were hinged on the left side of my head.  It actually appeared to open like a door.  As my face swung open on the side of my head, I was able to see the backside of my face and the inside of my head in two sections, side by side.  

I was looking at a cross-cut dissection of the inside of my head and face.  It was like looking at a full-color medical illustration.

As I looked around the inside of my head I suddenly noticed there was a tumor, or a growth of some sort, at the very top of my Eustachian tube, directly behind my left inner ear.  It was the size of a large pea.  

As I stared at the growth lodged behind my inner ear, I said to myself, "There's some sort of a tumor or a growth at the top of my Eustachian tube behind my inner ear!"  

As soon as I said that to myself, my face immediately began to close on its imaginary hinge, and I was staring at myself in the mirror again.  

As I looked at myself in the mirror the dream suddenly came to an end.

I realized I had been dreaming.  When one has a dream or a vision, they don't always realize they're having a dream or a vision until they come out of the dream or the vision.  

I realized immediately that the Holy Spirit had just shown me, through a dream of revelation, what my problem was.  I had a tumor or a growth of some sort which had developed behind my inner ear at the top of my Eustachian tube. This is what was causing such extreme vertigo, incapacitating me.

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We Knew Exactly What to Do

When Barbara arrived home shortly thereafter, I explained to her what the Holy Spirit had just revealed to me and how.  

Knowing that sickness, tumors and growths don't come from God because they destroy life, we knew exactly what to do.  (John 10:10; James 1:17)  Barbara had a similar problem previously and when we addressed it by faith we saw amazing, supernatural results.

Barbara and I agreed together in prayer, cursing the tumor, addressing it by faith, commanding it to come out of my body, in Jesus' Strong Name.  

Over the next two days I actually felt it moving down the Eustachian tube, ultimately working its way into my mouth.  On the third day I woke up in the morning realizing it was about to come into my mouth.  Because it was no longer lodged behind my inner ear, I was actually able to get up, at which time I went into the bathroom and spit it into the sink.  It was the same bloody mass that I had seen in the dream of revelation three days prior.  

The vertigo left nearly immediately. However, it was two weeks before I could confidently drive an automobile again. I was well on my way to a quick and a full recovery and back in the pulpit again all because of a supernatural dream of revelation, resulting in a supernatural healing.  To God be the glory!  

But there is something very interesting that accompanies this supernatural healing testimony. 

My wife and I hardly ever watch television. However, at the time of my supernatural healing I did have the television on when a commercial appeared.  It was for a certain type of over-the-counter medication in a purple box.  It literally grabbed my attention.  

As I looked at it on the television screen, I clearly heard the still small voice of the Holy Spirit within me say, "If you'll use that every time it (the mass) tries to reappear, it will hinder it."  So, just to be on the safe side, believing it could reappear because the Lord had referred to the possibility of it reappearing, I went and purchased the product.  I figured it was best to have it on hand in case it was needed.  

Sure enough, the vertigo reoccurred some weeks later and I knew that was a sign that something was trying to grow behind my inner ear again.  I took the product as directed and after a short period the vertigo would leave.  I had to do this a few times before the problem permanently ceased.

Why did the Lord give me a supernatural dream resulting in a supernatural healing, only to turn around and tell me that I was going to have to take an over-the-counter medication to keep it from reoccurring?  

Possibly it was for the same reason Isaiah instructed Hezekiah to use a fig poultice on his wound.  

Possibly the Lord's command to me was to be obeyed as an act of faith in order to keep the growth from redeveloping.  

As I stated earlier in Chapter Five, sometimes it takes faith to obey God and take medication.  

Had I not taken the medication when I needed to, as the Lord instructed, it would have been an act of both unbelief and disobedience. The Lord would then have to permit the vertigo-causing mass to redevelop because I was permitting it to redevelop by disobeying His command to use that particular medication. 

What I know for sure is this.  

That mass is no longer behind my inner ear and it is a result of both the natural and the supernatural working together for good.

It made no sense to Naaman why he had to dip in the River Jordan seven times when God could have just healed his leprosy without such a nonsensical instruction.  But had he not obeyed the Prophet's instruction, he would not have received his healing. (2 Kings 5:1-14) 

It made no sense to the blind man why Jesus made clay out of spit and dust, placing it on his eyes only to have him wash it off in the pool of Siloam. Jesus could have healed him without such nonsensical acts.  But had the blind man not obeyed, he would not have received his healing. (John 9:1-7)

Obedience always sets the stage for the miraculous. 

Sometimes obedience includes going to the doctor or utilizing medications and medical procedures if the Holy Spirit is leading you inwardly to do so.

For a Pastor, Spiritual leader or Christian to forbid or discourage another believer in Jesus Christ from going to a doctor, seeking medical attention or taking medication, homeopathic or otherwise, is not only ignorance of the Bible - it is ignorance of the Bible gone to seed.

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Chapter Eight: Additional Old Testament Examples

"Is There No Balm in Gilead?"

"The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved. For the hurt of the daughter of my people am I hurt; I am black; astonishment hath taken hold on me. Is there no balm in Gilead; is there no physician there? why then is not the health of the daughter of my people recovered?" (Jeremiah 8:20-22)

Here God is speaking through the Prophet Jeremiah of the grief He is experiencing over the need for Israel to go back into captivity, this time under King Nebuchadnezzar. God describes Himself as "black" referring to the way the Hebrew people would cover themselves with sackcloth and ashes, blackening themselves during times of grief.  This behavior was a sign of mourning in Israel and God was referring to it to help the Hebrew people better understand how grieved He was about their rebellion and His caring, allowed judgment that was now to follow.  

God then asked the question through Jeremiah, "Is there no balm in Gilead?  Is there no physician there?" 

This is a reference to the good that physicians and medicine do towards bringing healing to the sick.   

God is asking, "Is there no balm to bring good out of this evil?  Is there no physician to bring good out of this affliction?"  

Here God, again, refers to medicine and physicians as something that can bring good out of evil.  

The Bible repeatedly reveals that medicine and physicians both bring soothing and can assist in the healing process.

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Why Medication Would Not Work for Egypt

"Go up into Gilead, and take balm, O virgin, the daughter of Egypt: in vain shalt thou use many medicines; for thou shalt not be cured." (Jeremiah 46:11)

We will stick with the short story here. 

For centuries before the Prophet Jeremiah lived, Egyptian physicians had a reputation for the number of prescriptions and remedies they had devised for curing human ailments. As far back as 1500 B.C. there are records of over 800 prescribed remedies and over 700 different drugs developed by Egypt's physicians. 

Egypt was known throughout the civilized world as a nation with tremendous medical knowledge, skills and expertise.

In above passage of Scripture, God is rebuking Egypt for their interfering with His plan to protect and to provide for Israel. 

God is explaining to the Egyptians that in spite of their medical skills and expertise, medicine, which is intended of God to cure, will not work now for the Egyptians because they placed themselves under a curse by tampering with Israel.  

Anyone and everyone who lifts their hand against the City of Jerusalem or the Nation of Israel comes under a curse, whether it be an individual or a nation. 

It is not possible to disobey God concerning Jerusalem or Israel and receive His promise of physical blessing.

It is not possible to disobey God in any area of life and receive His promise of physical blessing, but this is particularly true when it comes to disobeying Him concerning Jerusalem and Israel.  

To disobey His command to not harass Jerusalem and Israel, and to not tamper with their well-being and security in any way, is to bring a curse upon oneself. This is true of both individuals and nations.  

As a matter of fact, every nation which was formerly a world power and is no longer a world power, ceased to be a world power by coming directly against Israel or by simply refusing to help Israel when the opportunity was presented. 

Abraham was the original Hebrew, the father of the Jewish nation. (Genesis 14:13)  God promised Abraham a mighty blessing if he would allow the Savior to come into the world through his genealogy. 

"And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing." (Genesis 12:2) 

But God did not limit His promised blessing to Abraham alone.  God promised to bless those who blessed Abraham and Abraham's offspring.  God further promised that He would curse those who cursed Abraham and his offspring. 

"And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the Earth be blessed." (Genesis 12:3)

Throughout every generation God's promise to Abraham continues.  God promises to bless those who vow to protect and to provide for Israel's security.  This is true for both individuals and nations. 

"Pray for the peace of Jerusalem (and Israel): they shall prosper that love thee." (Psalm 122:6)

Throughout every generation God promises to curse those who tamper with Jerusalem's or Israel's security in any way.  This also is true for both individuals and nations.

"And in that day I will make Jerusalem (and Israel) a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it (them) shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the Earth be gathered together against it (them)." (Zechariah 12:3)  

A Christian's disobedience to God results in broken fellowship with God.  This is particularly true when it comes to an individual or a nation lifting its hand against Jerusalem or Israel. 

When one is out of fellowship with God, individually or nationally, things stop happening for them and start happening to them.  The only way out of a self-created quagmire like that is immediate and whole-hearted repentance. 

"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9)

"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." (2 Chronicles 7:14)  

Christians and non-Christians alike who live in disobedience to God, particularly concerning Jerusalem and Israel, may often find their medication does not work for them proficiently.  The reason is disobedience to God, concerning Jerusalem and Israel in particular, always has and always will block the spout where the healing power of God freely flows out.  

Possibly you hold anti-Semitic sentiments and wrongly accuse Israel of being a "Terrorist State," you have sickness in your body and no amount of prayer or medication seems to bring relief.  Simply apologize to Almighty God and ask Him to forgive you for anti-Semitism.  Give Him your word that beginning immediately you will stand in support of Israel and God's Covenant with Abraham to bless them.  You will be wonderfully surprised to discover the curse has been reversed and your medication can now do what God intended for it to do. Your healing prayers will be answered, assuming you are living right before God in all other areas as well.

Christians and non-Christians alike who are continually plagued with infirmity and sickness and medications that just do not seem to work, should take their cue from Egypt in Jeremiah's day.  If you have been opposing Israel's right to exist as a sovereign free democracy, even as America has the right to exist as a sovereign free democracy, you would do quite well to repent in that area immediately.  God promises to bless those who bless Israel and to allow those who curse Israel to be cursed in turn.

The quickest way to stop healing from being wrought in one's body and to cause prayer, medications and medical treatments to be ineffective is to defy the Most High God in any area.  But this is particularly true concerning Jerusalem and Israel. 

Egypt certainly learned this the hard way.

Recently, in May of 2014, the World Health Organization published a report informing the nations of the world that global antibiotic resistance is no longer a looming threat.  Rather, it is now a present-day reality.  They announced that common infections and minor injuries which have been treatable for decades can suddenly kill once again.  

The World Health Organization blames global antibiotic resistance to over-use and abuse of antibiotics.  

However, in a world compromised of nations that are increasingly and alarmingly hostile towards Hebrews, Jerusalem and Israel, it would be much more accurate and Biblical to say that global antibiotic resistance is a direct result of abuse of Hebrews, Jerusalem and Israel.

Messing with little Israel never pays.  It always costs.  

This is what the Bible clearly conveys to every nation throughout all generations.

"Forever, O Lord, Thy Word is settled in Heaven." (Psalm 119:89) 

Again, learn from Hebrew-harassing Egypt in the Prophet Jeremiah's day.  

Check yourself. Don't wreck yourself.  

If your medication has not been working for you, healing just does not seem to come and you espouse anti-Semitic beliefs, your wrong beliefs are the cause of your problem.  

Happily, repentance is your solution. 

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"The Leaf Thereof for Medicine"

"And by the river upon the bank thereof, on this side and on that side, shall grow all trees for meat, whose leaf shall not fade, neither shall the fruit thereof be consumed: it shall bring forth new fruit according to his months, because their waters they issued out of the sanctuary: and the fruit thereof shall be for meat, and the leaf thereof for medicine." (Ezekiel 47:12)

This is actually a reference to the coming Millennial Reign of Jesus Christ.  The Millennial Reign is the 1,000 year period between the end of the seven-year Tribulation and the beginning of Eternity.  

Those of us who were Born Again and "raptured" before the seven-year Tribulation began will be present during the Millennial Reign in our perfected bodies. We will have received those perfected bodies in the same moment in which the Rapture occurred as indicated by the following verses of Scripture. 

"Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed." (1 Corinthians 15:51) 

"...we look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto His glorious body, according to the working whereby He is able even to subdue all things unto Himself." (Philippians 3:20-21)

"For the Lord Himself shall descend from Heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord." (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17)

However, there will be people who will be Born-Again after the Rapture occurs and during the seven-year Tribulation Period.  

These people will enter into the 1,000 year Millennial Reign in their natural, unperfected bodies. They will receive their perfected bodies at the end of the 1,000 year Millennial Reign.

Because those individuals are not yet in perfected bodies, they will be subject to sickness and disease during that 1,000 year period.  Sickness will not be as severe as in this present world, for Satan's grip on the Earth will have loosened significantly. However, there will still be a certain amount of sickness and disease with which those in unperfected bodies will have to contend.  

Those individuals will be able to eat the leaves of healing from the trees that line the rivers flowing from the Throne of God.  The leaves will serve as "medicine" causing them to receive healing and preservation, even allowing them to live without sickness and disease.  

These leaves of "medicine" and healing will renew body cells and cause health and longevity for them, even as God said the trees in the Garden would do for Adam and Eve before they fell.  The leaves of healing will provide medication, perfect nutrition, minerals and vitamins and serve as health supplements to the food which will also be eaten during that time. "The fruit thereof shall be for meat..." (verse 12). 

Now, if those folks can take medicine and health supplements which resist disease, renew body cells and cause longevity during the Millennial Reign, why would God say we cannot take medicine and health supplements here and now?

Nowhere in Scripture has God said we cannot take medicine and health supplements here and now.  

God provided medicinal plants, herbs, seeds and health supplements in the past for Adam and Eve and throughout Bible and human history.  

God promises to provide medicine and health supplements during the future Millennial Reign of Christ.  

God also allows human beings to partake of medicines and health supplements in the present.

"For every creature (formulation) of God is good, and nothing to be refused if it be received with thanksgiving: For it is sanctified by the Word of God and prayer." (1 Timothy 4:4-5)  

God's will for human health, healing and longevity is the same yesterday, today and forever. 

"For I am the Lord, I change not ..." (Malachi 3:6)

"Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever."  (Hebrews 13:8)

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Chapter Nine: Examples from Jesus' & the Apostle Paul's Ministries

Jesus' Stamp of Approval upon Physicians

"When Jesus heard it, He saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." (Mark 2:17)

Why would Jesus acknowledge that sick people should take advantage of the services of physicians and their prescribed treatments if it were not the will of God for them to do so?  This question we have already answered in Chapter Two where we saw God refer to Himself as a "Physician."  

If God is opposed to physicians, He is opposed to Himself and Jesus said, "Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation." (Matthew 12:25)  

God, the Great Physician, is not opposed to Himself.  

Neither is He opposed to His children using physicians because He Himself is a Physician.

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Doctors Can Only Do So Much

"And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years, And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse, When she heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched His garment.  For she said, If I may touch but His clothes, I shall be whole.  And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague.  

"And Jesus, immediately knowing in Himself that virtue had gone out of Him, turned Him about in the press, and said, Who touched My clothes?  And His disciples said unto Him, Thou seest the multitude thronging Thee, and sayest Thou, Who touched Me?  And He looked round about to see her that had done this thing.  But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before Him, and told Him all the truth.  And He said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague." (Mark 5:25-34)

Here is a woman who had a severe bleeding problem for twelve long years.  She probably should have died years earlier. She had suffered greatly at the hands of many physicians, spending all she had and could not seem to be healed. She made the decision, as a conscious act of her own free will, to find Jesus and to pull on His healing power with her faith. The end result was an outstanding miracle of healing.  

Notice Jesus, realizing what had been done, did not sharply rebuke this woman, demanding, "I understand you've been going to doctors for twelve years, lady.  They ripped you off and quite frankly you had it coming.  Who told you to go to the doctor?  Don't you know that using doctors and medicine is a lack of faith?"

Quite to the contrary, Jesus lovingly said to her, "Daughter, your faith in action has brought this miracle of healing to your body." 

The doctors could only do so much for this severely ill woman.  

She needed a touch from Heaven.  

She needed Jesus' healing touch.  

The doctors can only do so much for you.  

You need a touch from Heaven.

You need Jesus' healing touch.  

Jesus did not rebuke His daughter for utilizing the services of doctors, nor will He rebuke you for doing the same, as some unlearned spiritual leaders have done and would do.   

Just do not make the same mistake King Asa made, running lickety-split for the doctor's office right past the Lord without even stopping for His all-wise consultation.

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"He Commanded That Something Should Be Given Her to Eat"

"And, behold, there cometh one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name; and when he saw Him (Jesus), he fell at His feet, And besought Him greatly, saying, My little daughter lieth at the point of death: I pray Thee, come and lay Thy hands on her, that she may be healed; and she shall live.  And Jesus went with him; and much people followed Him, and thronged Him ...  

"While He yet spake, there came from the ruler of the synagogue's house certain which said, Thy daughter is dead: why troublest thou the Master any further? As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, He saith unto the ruler of the synagogue, Be not afraid, only believe.  And He suffered no man to follow Him, save Peter and James, and John the brother of James. 

"And He cometh to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and seeth the tumult, and them that wept and wailed greatly.  And when He was come in, He saith unto them, Why make ye this ado, and weep? the damsel is not dead, but sleepeth.  And they laughed him to scorn. 

"But when He had put them all out, He taketh the father and the mother of the damsel, and them that were with Him, and entereth in where the damsel was lying.  And He took the damsel by the hand, and saith unto her, Talitha cumi; which is, being interpreted, Damsel, I say unto thee, arise.  And straightway the damsel arose, and walked; for she was of the age of twelve years. 

"And they were astonished with a great astonishment. And He charged them straitly that no man should know it; and commanded that something should be given her to eat." (Mark 5:22-24,35-43)

In brief, Jesus walked into the home of Jairus' shortly after his twelve-year-old daughter had died.  He raised her from the dead and immediately commanded that something should be given the child to eat.  Why?  Because it was once again time to cooperate with the natural world to where she had returned.  

Jesus knew she needed to begin to ingest healthy sustenance with nutritional value that would renew her body cells and cause her life to continue.  

Again, when Jesus said that something should be given her to eat, He was referring to something with nutritional value. He was referring to something with enzymes, minerals, vitamins, etc., because the natural and the supernatural combined make an explosive force for long life and strong living.

Like the rest of us, this child not only needed to eat to live, she needed to eat properly.  

Cupcakes, pastries, candy, French fries, chips, soda pop, most fast food, etc., have almost no nutritional value.  One must deliberately ingest healthy, mostly live, food with nutritional value in order to live long and strong.  

It is vitally important to always eat something green, and I am not talking about eating all the green M & M's before eating all the other colors. I am talking, "Eat something live, Clive!"  

One must use wisdom when eating.  One cannot eat any old way and expect health and healing to continually manifest in one's body.  

One cannot and must not ingest death and corruption and then pray for life and health.   

That is just plain ole common sense.

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Jesus Came Up Under a Doctor

"And He said unto them, Ye will surely say unto Me this proverb, Physician, heal thyself: whatsoever we have heard done in Capernaum, do also here in Thy country." (Luke 4:23)

Jesus fully realized these religious leaders referred to Him as a "physician" because He healed spiritual, emotional and physical sickness and disease.  

Jesus had no problem at all with them referring to Him as a physician because that is what He is.  He is the Great Physician.  

Jesus lived for all of Eternity past with His Father, Who calls Himself "The Lord that healeth thee" or "The Lord Your Physician." 

"If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the Lord thy God, and will do that which is right in His sight, and will give ear to His commandments, and keep all His statutes, I will allow none of these diseases to come upon thee which I have allowed to come upon the Egyptians: for I am the Lord that healeth thee." (Exodus 15:26)  

Physicians are referred to no less than ten times throughout the Bible.  Neither Jesus nor His Father have any problem whatsoever with their family consulting physicians when necessary.

But again, the rule of the house is seek God first and seek the doctor second.

Remember King Asa.  

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"I Receive This with Thanksgiving in Jesus' Name"

"For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving: For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer." (1 Timothy 4:4-5)

The word "creature" used by the Apostle Paul in this verse is actually "formation" and "formulation."  

God has formed animals to be eaten in moderation.  He has formulated fruits, vegetables, herbs and herbal remedies for nourishment.  He has also formulated miracle drugs for the express purpose of counteracting sickness and death in a human body.

However, it all must be received with thanksgiving in order for it to have its intended good effect in the human body. There is something supernatural about saying, "Father, I receive this with thanksgiving, in Jesus' Name."  

Paul did not say to pray, "Father, we ask You to bless this food."  Paul did not say to pray, "Father, I bless this food."  

Paul said that everything ingested must be "received with thanksgiving."  Then and only then is it supernaturally sanctified to our bodies.

Do you pray over your medication as you would over a meal?  

Do you receive both meals and medication with thanksgiving in Jesus' Name?  

I ask, because sadly, some Christians do not even pray over their meals, let alone their medication.  

I have rarely had to take medication and I certainly do not pop a pill at the slightest symptom of anything.  

However, when I do take medication I always pray, "Father, thank You for this medication in Jesus' Name.  I thank You that it is now sanctified to my body by Your Word which I have prayed.  It will do its job effectively without side effects now, in Jesus' Strong Name."

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"Luke, the Beloved Physician"

Doctor Luke wrote both the Gospel of Luke and the Book of Acts. (Luke 1:1-3; Acts 1:1)  

Doctor Luke was a medical physician. The Apostle Paul referred to him as one.  

"Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas, greet you." (Colossians 4:14)

The Apostle Paul would have firsthand knowledge of Doctor Luke's medical mastery because Doctor Luke was either Paul's first cousin or his flesh and blood brother. In Romans chapter 16, verse 21, Paul referred to Doctor Luke as "my kinsman" which is a direct reference to an immediate blood relative.  

Personally, because they both demonstrated the same intellectual aptitude, I believe Luke the physician and Paul the Apostle were physical brothers sharing the same parentage.  

Doctor Luke was not only Paul's "kinsman" but he was also Paul's most trusted confidante, chronicler and his personal physician.  

In Doctor Luke's writing of the Gospel of Luke and the Book of Acts, he used well over 400 medical terms that are used nowhere else in Scripture. 

As a matter of fact, it was Doctor Luke who was used by the Holy Spirit to bring forth the Scriptural revelation that a babe in the womb, in any stage of development, is a living human being and not just a blob of flesh. 

Doctor Luke wrote the following concerning pregnant Elisabeth's encounter with her cousin, the approximately two-week pregnant virgin Mary, whom Elisabeth called "the mother of my Lord."

"And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy." (Luke 1:43-44)

The Greek word for "babe" used by Doctor Luke in this passage is "brephos."  It literally means "infant, young child, living, breathing, nursing human being."  

Doctor Luke, via the agency of the Holy Spirit, revealed that from the moment of conception God considers even an embryo to be an infant, a young child and a living, breathing, nursing human being. 

This means that every embryo, fetus or fully formed infant whose life is deliberately terminated by abortion is the termination of a God-created human being.  Every abortion ever performed, by a Christian or a non-Christian, will ultimately be accounted for and judged.

It is quite apparent that the highly knowledgeable and extremely skilled physician, Doctor Luke, was assigned to his kinsman Paul by the Holy Spirit to help keep him in good health in the midst of Paul's tremendous physical, emotional and spiritual suffering endured for the Word's sake. (2 Corinthians 11:23-31)  

If anyone thinks God and Jesus are down on physicians, nurses and medical technicians, it is because they are not up on Scriptural knowledge.  

If anyone thinks God and Jesus are down on balms, medicines, medical treatments, medical technology, vitamins, supplements, homeopathic and herbal remedies, it is because they are not up on Scriptural knowledge.

Bible-illiteracy is a terrible and a damaging condition.

Doctors and medicine go hand-in-hand with faith and healing.

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Dr. Kenneth E. Hagin Was Not a Hypocrite  

For years I have witnessed Christians persecuting and ridiculing Dr. Kenneth E. Hagin, "The Father of the Modern Faith Movement," for the way he and his wife would utilize doctors and medication if they were impressed of the Lord to do so.  

In their extremely limited understanding of Dr. Hagin's life, Ministry and teaching, they refer to him as a hypocrite for preaching faith and occasionally utilizing the services of physicians.  

Having not paid close attention to Dr. Hagin's Ministry because of unbelief, pride and offense on their part, his detractors do not realize that he never instructed anyone to not utilize physicians, only to turn around and utilize physicians himself.  

Dr. Hagin never instructed anyone to not use medication for any reason, only to turn around and utilize it himself.  

Dr. Hagin never recommended to anyone, "Throw your medication away and go it by faith, otherwise, God cannot heal you."  

Dr. Hagin's position on physicians and medication and my position are identical.  We both say, "If you're on medication, don't throw it away to prove you have faith.  That's foolishness.  Meditate on the healing Word of God and it won't be long before the doctor tells you that you won't be needing that medication any longer." 

Many new adherents to the message of faith in God's Word for Divine healing have thrown away their medications and eyeglasses to prove they have faith for healing.  

That is not faith at all.  That is foolishness and presumption.  

Faith for healing comes by meditating on God's healing Word.  It does not come by foolishly throwing away your medication or your eyeglasses. 

If you insist upon doing so, please do not come driving down through my neighborhood. 

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Chapter Ten: The Final Analysis, "If It's Good It's God!"

"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning." (James 1:17)

We have seen in this book, beginning all the way back in Genesis chapter one, that herbs, balms, medicine, physicians, medications and medical treatments are good.  

In the above Scripture James, the half-brother of Jesus, said if anything is good, it could only have come from God.  

He said every good thing comes directly from God and not from the devil.  

He also said this will never change.  

In essence James said, "If it's good it's from God. End of story."  

Jesus said the same thing when He said, "It is the thief who came to steal, kill and destroy, but I have come that you might have life and have it more abundantly." (John 10:10)  

Sickness and disease steals, kills and destroys.  Doctors, medicine, faith and healing tend towards abundance of life.

Therefore, it could not possibly be a lack of faith or an act of disobedience to use doctors and medication, unless He, the Almighty, specifically tells someone not to do so.  

And when I say, unless "He" specifically tells someone not to do so, I am not talking about a Pastor, a Spiritual leader or anyone else ever telling someone "on behalf of God" that they are forbidden to go to a doctor or to use medication.  This is something one must hear directly from God for one's self.  

Whether or not to use doctors or medication is for the individual to decide between them and the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit will normally address the individual concerning this decision by the Inward Witness or by the still small voice.

If you are taking medication or are under a doctor's care, build your faith for healing before making any changes.  This is done by listening to healing messages in a Spirit-filled Church, by CD, Internet, etc., over and over and over.  

Read healing Scriptures and think upon them.  Speak them softly to yourself.  Listen to them while you sleep, for your spirit never sleeps.  

Continually put the healing Word of God into your spirit through the eye-gate and the ear-gate.  Faith will rise and healing will come. 

Remember, Proverbs 17:22 says, "A merry heart doeth good like a medicine."  

Is medicine good?  

The Bible says, "Yes, medicine is good.  And if it's good, it's God!"

Faith will do whatever it takes to get the job done.  Even when that means sticking with your doctor, your medication, possibly surgery, an organ transplant, a blood transfusion, etc.

We have clearly seen from the Bible that God, the Great Physician, is adverse to none of these solutions, contrary to what some of the world's Bible teachers and false religions wrongly declare.

When it comes to doctors, medicine, faith and healing, every individual must be led by the Holy Spirit for themselves.

However God leads you as an individual, it is vitally important for you, as a Christian, to keep building your faith level for healing by hearing and hearing the healing Word of God.

Remember, the natural and the supernatural combined create a powerful atmosphere for healing.    

Every Christian has a God-given obligation to get their own leading directly from God and then to do all within their power, naturally and spiritually, to care for their body.  

The Christian's body is the Temple of the Holy Spirit. 

"What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?  For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's." (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)

How to Be Born Again (Receive Christ as Your Savior)

How to Receive The Holy Spirit & Power

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HEALING SCRIPTURES FOR MEDITATION

God is not only able to heal you, but it is His will to heal you. Carefully read the following Scriptures and speak them softly to yourself often. Select a few as favorites to use more often than the others. God loves you and He wants to heal you. You do not have to do anything to earn His love or your healing.  If you are Born Again, Jesus has done that for you.

"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creation: old things are passed away; behold all things are become new ... For He hath made Him [Jesus] to be sin for us, Who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him." (2 Corinthians 5:17,21) 

"If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the Lord thy God, and wilt do that which is right in His sight, and wilt give ear to His commandments, and keep all His statutes, I will [permit] none of these diseases upon thee, which I have [permitted] upon the Egyptians: for I am the Lord that healeth thee." (Exodus 15:26)

"And ye shall serve the Lord your God, and He shall bless thy bread, and thy water, and I will take sickness away from the midst of thee." (Exodus 23:25)

"This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of his troubles." (Psalm 34:6)

"The Lord will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing..." (Psalm 41:3)

"With long life will I satisfy him, and show him My salvation." (Psalm 91:16)

"Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless His Holy Name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; Who healeth all thy diseases; Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; Who crowneth thee with loving-kindness and tender mercies; Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagles." (Psalm 103:1-5)

"He sent His Word and healed them and delivered them from their destructions." (Psalm 107:20)

"The Lord is my strength and song, and is become my saving health." (Psalm 118:14)

"I shall not die, but live and declare the works of the Lord." (Psalm 118:17)

"Behold, I have longed after Thy precepts: quicken me in Thy righteousness." (Psalm 119:40)

"Let Thy tender mercies come unto me, that I may live: for Thy law is my delight." (Psalm 119:77)

"Quicken me after Thy loving-kindness; so shall I keep the testimony of Thy mouth." (Psalm 119:88)

"I will never forget Thy precepts: for with them Thou hast quickened me." (Psalm 119:93)

"Plead my cause and deliver me: quicken me according to Thy Word." (Psalm 119:154)

"My son attend to My words; incline thine ear unto My sayings. Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. For they are life unto those that find them and health to all their flesh." (Proverbs 4:20-22)

"Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of My righteousness." (Isaiah 41:10)

"But He [Jesus] was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed." (Isaiah 53:5)

"Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved: for Thou art my praise." (Jeremiah 17:14)

"For I will restore health unto thee, and I will heal thee of thy wounds, saith the Lord." (Jeremiah 30:17)

"And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people." (Matthew 4:23)

"When He [Jesus] was come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed Him. And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped Him, saying, Lord, if Thou wilt, Thou canst make me clean.  And Jesus put forth His hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed." (Matthew 8:1-3)

"When the evening was come they brought unto Him [Jesus] many that were possessed with devils: and He 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." (Matthew 8:16-17)

"But when Jesus knew it, He withdrew Himself from thence: and great multitudes followed Him, and He healed them all." (Matthew 12:15)

"And Jesus went forth and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and He healed their sick." (Matthew 14:14)

"And when the men of that place had knowledge of Him [Jesus], they sent out into all that country roundabout, and brought unto Him all that were diseased; and besought Him that they might only touch the hem of His garment: and as many as touched were made perfectly whole." (Matthew 14:35-36)

"And great multitudes came unto Him [Jesus], having with them those that were lame, blind, dumb, maimed, and many others, and cast them down at Jesus' feet; and He healed them: insomuch that the multitude wondered, when they saw the dumb to speak, the maimed to be whole, the lame to walk and the blind to see: and they glorified the God of Israel." (Matthew 15:30)

"And it came to pass that when Jesus had finished these sayings, He departed from Galilee, and came into the coasts of Judea beyond Jordan; and great multitudes followed Him; and He healed them there." (Matthew 19:1-2)

"The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He hath sent Me to heal the broken-hearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised." (Luke 4:18)

"It came to pass on a certain day, as He [Jesus] was teaching, that there were Pharisees and doctors of the law sitting by, which were come out of every town of Galilee, and Judea, and Jerusalem and the power of the Lord was present to heal them." (Luke 5:17)

"And He [Jesus] said unto her, Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith has made thee whole; go in peace." (Luke 8:48)

"When Jesus saw her He called her to Him, and said unto her, Woman, thou art loosed from thy infirmity. And He laid His hands on her: and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God." (Luke 13:12-13)

"Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in My Name [Jesus], He will give it you." (John 16:23)

"And His Name [Jesus], through faith in His Name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by Him hath given him this perfect soundness [of body] in the presence of you all." (Acts 3:16)

"Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the Name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, Whom ye crucified, Whom God raised from the dead, even by Him doth this man stand here before you whole." (Acts 4:10)

"How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: Who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with Him." (Acts 10:38)

"But if the Spirit of Him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by His Spirit that dwelleth in you." (Romans 8:11)

"He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things." (Romans 8:32)

"Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law [sickness] being made a curse for us: for it is written, cursed is everyone that hangeth on a tree: that the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith." (Galatians 3:13-14)

"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." (Hebrews 11:1)

"For without faith it is impossible to please Him.  For he that cometh unto God must not only believe that He exists, but that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him." (Hebrews 11:6)

"Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever." (Hebrews 13:8)

"Who His ownself bear our sins in His body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by Whose stripes ye were healed." (1 Peter 2:24)

"Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth." (3 John 2)

Say, "I believe with certainty that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.  It is His will to heal me in answer to my prayer of faith."   

How to Be Born Again (Receive Christ as Your Savior)

How to Receive The Holy Spirit & Power

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