Heal me, O LORD, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved: for thou art my praise. – Jeremiah 17:14
* * *
Introduction to Bible Study
This author’s intent is to carefully go through scripture and study passages related to healing and faith. Without faith we cannot be healed: the two interlocked. We see throughout the Gospels, Jesus claiming as you have believed, let it be done unto you; your faith has made you well; according to your faith be it unto you [Matt. 8:13; Matt. 9:22; Matt. 9:29] These are only three excerpts, more could be quoted, but that will be for a future in-depth study.
But as James writes: faith without works is dead, there are stipulations for healing in the Bible. Such as Exodus 23:25 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. Only if we serve the Lord, will He take away sickness from among us.
But despite out best understanding and our devout servitude, some of us are still ill. This study is a corrective study to search for reasons why we may still be ill, but this study is also for encouragement since: whom the Lord loves, He chastens, and some health trials are so that we can grow in the Lord and become a fruitful bough.
John 15:2 Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. [8] Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.
Pruning is painful, but it is beneficial to every branch. If we are being tried; if we are being purged, it is a reflection that we are spiritually alive and bearing some fruit. Those who do not bear fruit are spiritually dead; they are removed from the tree and cast away. The spiritually dead are like those who are physically dead: they know nothing. [Ecc. 9:5]
We will be exploring the various reasons for health trials, including, but not limited to:
- Sin [John 5:14; James 5:16]
- Spiritual Warfare [Job 1:6-12; 1 Peter 5:8]
- Chastisement [Hebrews 12:5-7]
- Pruning [John 15:2, 8]
- Time and Chance [Ecc. 9:11]
James 1:2-4 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; [3] Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. [4] But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
So let us glorify God, by bearing much fruit and let us count it all joy.
Laodicea Rises 